Wallkill tops Red Hook, wins MHAL crown

Wallkill High won its first Mid-Hudson Athletic League boys soccer championship in three years Thursday, defeating Rhinebeck, 2-0, in the final at Roosevelt.

Frankie Palumbo scored off a 25-yard volley 21 minutes into the match to give the Panthers the lead.

Behind excellent defense led by Justin Dunikowski’s six saves, (12-4) Wallkill kept Rhinebeck in check.

Both teams kept the pressure up until Dan Crisano provided Wallkill with a big insurance goal with 76:50 remaining.

It was Wallkill’s 10th shutout of the year.

The Panthers are the top seed for the Section 9, Class A tournament. They host Poughkeepsie

in the quarterfinals 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Rhinebeck, the third seed in the Class B tourney, returns to Roosevelt on Saturday to play John S. Burke Catholic in an 11:30 a.m. quarterfinal.