Colts Fall In Overtime

By Andrew Wroblewski

awroblewski@longislandergroup.com

Katina Cokinos, a Colts’ junior midfielder, takes the ball out of Hills West territory in a game last week between the Colts and Bulldogs of North Babylon.

Déjà vu; on Oct. 2 second as the clock ran down on Half Hollow Hills High School West, that’s the feeling the Colts (5-3) could best relate to. For the second time this season, after having the Bulldogs (8-1) of North Babylon on the ropes, the ladies of the varsity soccer team couldn’t seal the deal in overtime; they fell 2-0.

“The girls played hard, they played to the end… They played as a team, they got to everywhere they were supposed to be,” Colts’ Head Coach Amanda Strack said. “Except for finishing… We didn’t finish and capitalize when we needed to.”

Level at the end of regulation, the Colts just couldn’t put the ball into the back of the net. But with 6:16 remaining in the second overtime period, North Babylon could and took the lead. A minute and a half later, the Bulldogs scored again to seal a League III victory.

“They finished when they were supposed to finish,” Strack said of the Bulldogs. “[We] worked ‘til the end, [but] it is what it is. Hopefully we’ll see them again.”

Just two more wins were standing between the Colts and a playoff spot as of press time Monday, meaning Hills West could very well be on its way to see North Babylon – which clinched in September – once again come playoff time.

Riverhead (1-7), Copiague (0-9) and Centereach (3-5) were the next three teams on the Colts’ schedule – all three of which they’ve previously beaten this season. First, on Tuesday after press time, the Colts traveled to Riverhead. Today, Hills West welcomes Copiague with kickoff at 4 p.m.