Pierson/Bridgehampton Boys Soccer Tops Greenport in Penalty Kicks To Win Third Consecutive County Title

With a game-day temperature around 80 degrees, but with it feeling more like 90 on the turf at Diamond in the Pines in Coram on Saturday afternoon, the Suffolk County Boys Soccer Class C Championship was clearly going to be won by which team, Pierson/Bridgehampton or Greenport, was the last standing.

Players were constantly coming in and out of the game, mainly due to cramping from the heat. But it was still an entertaining game, with both teams tied, 3-3, at the end of regulation. Then, after both teams played scoreless 15-minute overtime periods, the game was decided by penalty kicks.

In PKs, each shooter that went to the line for the Whalers scored, that included Jose Gomez, Ryder Esposito, Wilmer Reyes, Helio Paucar and Quinn Tanner, respectively. The Porters’ third shooter’s shot sailed high, giving the Whalers the advantage. After Gilson and Milton Veliz each scored for Greenport, it came down to Tanner to score the deciding goal for Pierson, and he did, leading to a 5-4 PK win for Pierson and with it its third consecutive Suffolk County Class C Championship.

Tanner admitted after the victory that he’s not particularly fond of PKs, but knew he needed to come through for his team.

“Had my place in mind, right side. I’ve also had a fear of PKs my whole life,” he said. “But I’ve settled lots of tournaments with them, so it means a lot to make it. Very nervous, but, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”

The victory advanced Pierson/Bridgehampton to the Long Island Class C Championship this Tuesday at Mitchel Field in Uniondale against Evergreen Charter at 2:30 p.m. Results of that game occurred too late to appear in this week’s edition and can be found online at 27east.com and in next week’s edition of the paper.

Saturday’s game mirrored that, in terms of conditions, of the season opener for both teams when Greenport hosted Pierson and wound up winning, 6-1, on September 9, in what was also a very hot day. Pierson only had 12 players available that game, but showed marked improvement throughout the season with a pair of victories over the Porters since that season opener.

“Ultimately, that’s what playoffs come down to. It doesn’t come down to tactics or anything, it comes down to who wants it more and who finishes their opportunities,” Pierson first-year head coach Luis Aguilar said after the win. “Unfortunately, we let them back into the game twice. It came down to grit, hard work, sweat, everything. I told them there’s no better feeling than to win off penalties. Fortunately, we were the winning team today.”

Pierson opened the scoring early when Paucar beat Greenport senior goalie Kal-El Marine to the ball and had an easy time scoring. With just under 5:00 remaining in the first half, Greenport finally evened the score when Veliz scored off a corner to make it 1-1 at halftime.

About 10 minutes into the fist half, Pierson retook the lead when Paucar sent what was essentially a corner kick into the box that junior Andy Wayne got a head on and directed to the far post to make it 2-1. More than halfway through the second half, Gilson Veliz fought through some cramping in his calves when he beat a Pierson player to an open ball, then passed it to an open senior Nery Cano, who turned and booted the ball into the back of the net to tie the game, 2-2.

With just under 17:00 in regulation, Pierson senior goalie George Ingolia (11 saves) came out to play Greenport Milton Veliz and it was decided by the officials that Ingolia came out too aggressively and took Veliz out of his own play. Therefore, Ingolia was given a yellow card and had to sit the play out while Veliz was awarded a PK. He scored to make it 3-2 and give Greenport its first lead of the game. But it didn’t take long for Pierson to strike back, just over a minute later Tanner scored to make it 3-3, which was the score until through regulation and pair of overtime periods.

“This was our fourth time playing them, and had we started off the season with them and that was also a hot game” Aguilar said. “We lost, 6-1. And we only had 12 players, and it was a hot one like this, and obviously the turf enhances the heat that much more. Lucky we were able to stay in it mentally, physically. Regardless of how many times we beat them before, the better team comes out at the end of the day, and, luckily, that was us.”

“I love these boys that I’m with,” Tanner said. “Means a lot to have a lot more time with them, to keep playing with them. Winning is just surreal.”

Pierson senior co-captain Gus Hayes, who along with back line mate and fellow co-captain Ryder Esposito, was one of the rare few who didn’t come out of Saturday’s game at all, said it was unbelievable to think how far the team has come since that season opener.

“I think it’s a crazy contrast from the beginning of the season,” he said. “A good win to wrap it up. Our first big loss was against Greenport, and now we come back at the end of the season to win the county championship against them.”

Aguilar echoed his captains’ sentiments.

“Us making playoffs in and of itself, the way we started, it’s an accomplishment to be proud of,” he said. “Our season still goes on. That’s why we do this. Fortunately, we move on to play another day.”