NAC Semi's: Gritty Badgers Fall in Penalty Kicks
Castleton, VT - Castleton goalie Mike Anthony (Dartmouth, MA) turned away two out of the four Johnson State penalty kicks he faced, and the Spartans were successful on all four of their tries to advance to the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Men’s Soccer Final for the third-consecutive season. Castleton will travel to Husson University on November 7 in search of its third-straight NAC title against top-seeded Eagles.
Johnson State played a physical, defensive-minded contest, packing the defensive end and looking for quick counters. The strategy appeared destined to work, as the Badgers broke a scoreless tie in the 32nd minute of play. Chris Keefer (Montague, NJ) broke free on a breakaway, after a Castleton miscommunication on defense. Anthony came out to cut off Keefer’s angle, but the senior striker snuck it under his outstretched hand for his fifth goal of season.
Castleton knotted the score at 1-1 in the 50th minute on a Johnson State own goal. Chris Mulholland (Ridgefield Park, NJ) played a cross inside the box, and as the Badger defense attempted to clear, inadvertently knocked it past keeper Steve Noyes (Barre, VT).
Johnson State grabbed a 2-1 lead in the 62nd minute when Ryan Demars (Morrisville, VT) knocked in a loose ball in front of the net. Keefer sent a Johnson State corner kick in towards the net, the ball caromed off a Spartan defender, and trickled along the goal line to Demars who knocked it home.
The Spartans continued to apply pressure to the packed backfield, and finally broke through for a goal in the 74th minute. Billy Lund (Monson, MA) and Greg Klopfer (Voorheesville, NY) hooked up for the pretty score. Lund served a cross from 35-yards out on the right flank, to Klopfer who was running at full speed down the left flank. Klopfer was able to get enough of his head on the ball to redirect it past the diving Noyes.
Noyes was busy all day as Castleton rifled off 46 shots, to Johnson State’s eight. The Spartans had three terrific chances to take the lead just over 20 minutes into the contest. Mulholland made a nifty slip pass in to Sean Fitzgerald (Saratoga Springs, NY) who tried to one-touch past Noyes but the keeper made a great diving save. Just 20 seconds later, Fitzgerald had another shot, this time at an open net, but a Badger defender leaped and headed it away from the goal. Josh Costa (Sutton, MA) had a straight on look at a left-footed shot, that he nearly bent in, but Noyes once again sprawled out for the save. Johnson State also had two more saves credited to the team in the second half and second overtime. Both came from defenders on the post, the most impressive coming with 6:25 remaining in the second overtime. Nick Johnas (Niskayuna, NY) got a head on a corner kick, that was destined for the far side post, but Peter Wanjiku (South Burlington, VT) was waiting on the post and turned it away.
Castleton also held a decisive 16-1 edge in corner kicks, and Johnson State’s physical play translated into 39 fouls to Castleton’s 14.
Noyes ended the contest with 15 saves, and Anthony stopped one. But, Castleton’s senior goalie stepped up when it mattered most, turning away a pair of penalty kicks in the penalty kick round.
Costa, Corey Robbins (Barre, VT), Klopfer and Jon Vogt (Henniker, NH) each converted their penalty kick tries. With Castleton leading the penalty kick round 4-2, Anthony stopped Ryan Joy’s (North Montpelier, VT) attempt to seal the win, and birth in the NAC Finals against Husson.
Johnson State wraps up its season at 6-8-3 overall, while Castleton remains alive at 10-6-3.