Hernandez's hat trick leads Whitman into soccer final

Whitman had created opportunity after opportunity but had just one goal to show for it. Against a quality Hilton team in the boys soccer Class AA state semifinals, missed chances could have proved costly.

But when Hilton's Simon Garno fired an equalizing shot inside the crossbar with 22:35 left, Whitman did not wilt.

Instead, Witman Hernandez answered with his first goal less than three minutes later to give the Wildcats the lead for good in a 7-3 win Saturday in their first appearance in the state's final four.

Hernandez had three goals, Michael Lorello had two and Anthony Palazzolo had a goal and an assist as Whitman (19-1-1) earned a date with Ballston Spa at 3 p.m. Sunday.

"We get the adrenaline going at random times," Palazzolo said. "We never know when we're going to get that burst of energy and just come together as a team and put five or six in the back of the net. It can happen at any time of the game."

Hernandez broke the tie at 1 after taking a well-placed feed from Jonathan Consolo into space down the left side and beating Hilton goalkeeper Brian Wilkins (10 saves) one-on-one. Hernandez, who tapped his shot toward the empty net as Wilkins slid at him in an effort to get to the ball first, landed awkwardly and had to leave for a few minutes with a minor leg injury.

By the time he returned, Whitman had taken a 3-1 lead on Blake Aronson's goal, with an assist by Isaias Noel Reyes, with 15:36 left.

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Jeffrey Hibbard cut it to 3-2 with 11:58 left, but after Hernandez scored his second goal, three minutes later, the Wildcats began to pull away. Hernandez scored for the final margin with 1:20 remaining.

That goal was the 23rd of the year for Hernandez, who also has 12 assists.

"It's amazing," Hernandez said of recording a hat trick upstate, "but I couldn't have done that without my team. They're amazing players, all of them."That depth was certainly on display, as three other Wildcats scored goals and three more recorded an assist (Javier Dubon assisted Palazzolo's goal with 7:09 left).

Even Fabrizio Chamorro, who did not get on the scoreboard, created several chances for Whitman's offense. His rocket off the crossbar, for one, led to Lorello's second goal, a header off the rebound.

"Witman's an unbelievable player," coach John DiGiacomo said, "but it's the people that surround him. Everybody, they all make each other better.

These Wildcats are aware of the history they can make for their program. Palazzolo said he and his teammates have talked all year about becoming the first Whitman boys soccer team to win a state title. Hernandez could only smile thinking about the possibility.

"We're a family," Hernandez said. "We share wins and losses -- if we lose."