Hampshire tops Burlington for regional title
It only took one goal to decide the boys soccer 2A regional champion at Hampshire High School on Friday.
The Hampshire Whip-Purs (13-10) defeated the Burlington Central Rockets by a score of 1-0 to win their third regional in the last four years. Hampshire now advances to the Lakes sectional on Tuesday.
After a tight and scoreless first half, the lone goal of the game came midway through the second half off the foot of Hampshire’s Peter Panagakos; who scored off a rebound of a free kick by Jason Bishop that hit the post.
“It was just total luck,” said Panagakis. “It just came up to me, I wasn’t expecting it at all. I’m not usually (in that position during a penalty kick); that was one of my few times this year, so I was pretty excited.”
“Peter was in the right place at the right time,” said Hampshire head coach John Gosling. “It was a good strike by Jason.”
Hampshire goalkeeper Bryan Contreras had a stellar game, making huge saves for his team throughout, and recording his second consecutive shutout. His biggest saves were the ones he made after plays from Burlington Central corner kicks, of which the Rockets had 6 in the second half alone.
“It’s a lot of pressure, especially with the crowd,” said Contreras. “(The crowd) wasn’t getting to me, but it was pretty nerve-racking.”
The Rockets (11-7-5) had several scoring chances, especially in the second half; but on two separate occasions, they hit the crossbar and Contreras came up with the save.
“It was just a quick reaction,” said Contreras of the first crossbar shot. “I thought I had it, and the post saved me. The lights actually got in my way so I was kind of scared, but I got it.”
“I don’t think I could have asked any more of my team,” said Rockets head coach Michael Gecan, whose team took fourth in Class 2A last season. “We played great soccer today. We just couldn’t get the ball in the goal, that was kind of the theme. (Hampshire’s) free kick hits the post, and one of their guys does a fantastic job of putting it in the net and that’s where we lacked today. Taking the easy goal. We just didn’t get the lucky bounces today.”