The Class C2 top-seeded Kendall boys soccer team saw their previously undefeated season ended by fourth-seed Keshequa on penalty kicks in a Section V playoff game played at Spencerport.
“The guys did not deserve that ending,” Kendall head coach Brian Duffy said. “Penalty kicks is the worst thing in soccer, but we knew going in. We had four three-year starters and this is an unfortunate ending to long careers for some of the guys.”
Senior midfielder Riley Iqbal seemed to be in the middle of most of the Eagles’ scoring chances throughout the game and that began in the early stages.
He had a shot on goal that was stopped by the Indians goalkeeper in the 10th minute and was sprung in on goal on a great pass from Justin Barrett where his attempt needed a diving save to keep out of the goal in the 20th minute.
Keshequa broke up the 0-0 tie on a miscommunication in the Eagles defensive zone as the defense tried to shield the Indians attacker from the ball to allow it to be gathered up, but Tim Fanaro slipped around and put his shot off the keepers’ fingers and into the net.
In the 35th minute, Eagles senior Barrett fed a ball down the left wing to Sage Summers, but his shot hit the side of the net.
Kendall picked up their intensity at the start of the second half and it paid off with the tying goal in the 46th minute. Iqbal sent a long feed from midfield to Will Condo. The Indians goalkeeper came out to challenge, but Condo dribbled around him and found the back of the net to tie the game 1-1.
The Eagles had the bulk of scoring chances during the rest of regulation including Iqbal heading a pass to Jake Adams, whose shot went wide right in the 57th minute and Adams sending a pass on the right wing to Condo, whose tough angle shot went high.
In the first overtime, Iqbal fed Barrett 30-yards out, but his shot went off the top of the crossbar.
In the second extra session Cody Travis’ free kick from 50 yards away found Condo in the box. He tipped the ball back up high to Zach Vogt, but his attempt whistled wide of the post.
In penalty kicks, Vogt, Condo, Adams and Travis all scored, but Keshequa also made four-of-five sending to extra kicks. The Indians sixth kicker found the back of the net and the Eagles attempt was knocked just wide of the post by Indians keeper Josh Barranco, who entered the contest just for the penalty kicks portion.
“We lost one of the best defenders in the league in Zach Tallman to injury in the second half, so we had to move Condo back which hurt our attack,” Duffy said. “We stuck it out to the penalty kicks, which says something for the character of this team.”
