Ilgin leads Mattituck to Long Island Class B boys soccer title
Mattituck teammates celebrate after their 4-1 win over Wheatley in the Long Island Class B boys soccer championship at Adelphi University on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. Credit: James Escher
Kaan Ilgin walked over to Mattituck's sideline after he was issued a yellow card. He took a seat on the bench, then looked toward coach Mat Litchhult and said, "This is going to be my game today.''
At that point, there were 23 minutes left in the first half with the score tied. Ilgin returned five minutes later and scored two goals in a span of five minutes. At that point, there were 13 minutes left in the first half and Mattituck had pulled away.
Behind Ilgin's two goals and two assists, Mattituck defeated Wheatley, 4-1, Tuesday to win the Long Island Class B soccer championship at Adelphi.
Instead of limiting his aggressive play, Ilgin said the yellow card motivated him. "It pumped me up more,'' he said. "When I get angry, it's better.''
He's happy now because Mattituck (15-2) will play Wednesday's Rye Neck-Highland winner in a regional final at 4 p.m. Saturday at Diamond in the Pines in Coram.
After earning the Long Island championship in 2012, the Tuckers lost the title game last year. Players attributed the different outcome this time to senior leadership. Twenty of their 26 players are seniors, including Ilgin.
"I told the boys before the game that we weren't going to feel that feeling from last year again,'' Ilgin said. "And we didn't. We won.''
Paul Hayes headed in the first goal off Ilgin's corner kick two minutes into the game. Joey Dinetz's penalty kick tied it for Wheatley (4-8-5) three minutes later.
At that point, Kevin Williams moved from defense to midfield and Hayes, an outside back, replaced Williams at center back. In the midfield, Williams generated several breakaways, two resulting in goals.
With 15 minutes left in the first half, Williams got the ball past a group of defenders and found Ilgin, who was alone near the net and chipped it in with his left foot to give the Tuckers a 2-1 lead. Williams set up Ilgin again with a pretty pass two minutes later to make it 3-1.
Walter Jacob scored Mattituck's fourth goal two minutes into the second half. Right after that goal, Litchhult pulled Ilgin from the game. Ilgin, visibly upset, took a seat on the bench. This time, it was Litchhult who did the talking.
"He explained to me that he didn't want to me to get another yellow,'' Ilgin said. "He was thinking of the next game, and it's good we still have a next game.''
