Mount Academy, Chazy declared co-champions
The Eagles are named state Class D co-champions with Chazy after the teams play to a 1-1 tie
Mount Academy were named state Class D co-champions with Chazy after the two teams played to a 1-1 tie.
Mount Academy and Chazy played an intense and evenly-match game Sunday, battling to a 1-1 tie that left the teams declared state Class D cochampions.
The teams fought to the draw through 110 minutes of action in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s finals. There is no penalty-kick resolution in the title match so, after 80 minutes of hard action and two 15-minute overtimes, state rules dictated the teams be co-champions.
It is the first title for (15-2-2) Mount Academy, which lost in overtime in the 2014 finals.
“I could not be more proud of the young men on our team. They left it all on the field, as did Chazy,” Mount Academy coach Tom Huleatt said. “The mutual respect between the two teams and coaches after that game was a great example of high school athletics at its best. We are holding our heads high and give thanks to God for a great season. To end up
as state champions is fantastic and is a testimony to the work ethic and heart this team displayed all season long.”
This is the eighth title in 14 years for Chazy (20-1-1) of Section 7, tying a state record for most championships. It is also the second time this has happened to that program. Chazy was declared co-champions with Jasper Troupsburg in 2013.
Mount Academy went ahead with two minutes left in the first half as Thomas Huleatt battled through a triple team to send a crossing pass that Seth Thompson headed into the net. That 1-0 lead remained as the teams battled in midfield with few scoring opportunities.
Midfielder Conner Morse tied the match with 7:05 left in regulation, banging in a shot through a crowd during a loose ball scramble. Chazy dominated the final five minutes, but couldn’t get the game-winner.
“The final four is a real test of endurance for all teams as fulllength soccer games are played back-to-back on two days,” coach Huleatt said. “Neither team really had enough gas in the overtime to make many chances happen.”
Mount’s best opportunity to break the tie occurred midway through the first OT. Thomas Huleatt curved a perfect free kick, but junior goalkeeper Benjamin Norcross denied him by tipping the shot over the crossbar.
Stuart Boller had three saves for Mount Academy.