#4Pete still alive with 2-0 victory over Cougars
(Ben Polk puts Herkimer up 1-0 in the 25th for his 31st goal of the season on Saturday).
(Femi Kaffo gives the Generals a two goal advantage on an assist from Windster in the 36th minute Saturday).
DRYDEN, NY – Netting two goals in the first 36 minutes of play is all the Herkimer Generals men’s soccer team needed Saturday (11/1) at Tompkins-Cortland Community College to repeat as Region III Champions for the 25th straight year, defeating Genesee Community College 2-0 to keep #4Pete alive.
Herkimer (16-0-1, 7-0) had the first goal of the game scored by none other than sophomore Ben Polk (Banbury, UK). The forward outraced three defenders with the ball for the 1-v-1 against Cougars goalie Connor Halstead, scoring from left-to-right to give Herkimer a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute. The score was Polk’s 31st of the season which is second best in the nation. He has now scored in every game but two for the Generals.
Doubling the score up 2-0 was freshman Femi Kaffo (London, England) just 10 minutes later. Jermaine Windster (Rotterdam, Holland) found Kaffo from the left side of the field, placing it perfectly to the right side of the net where Kaffo kicked it right out of the air into the goal for his sixth score of the season. The assist was Windster’s 13th of the season which is fifth best in the nation, now giving the captain ironically 13 goals and assists.
After intermission, the Generals came out a different team. They still out shot the Cougars 5-to-2 and had more corners (3-to-1), but the energy the team started with was not present throughout the second half. Three different players; Eric Kipoliongo (New Hampton, NY), MacIntyre Felton (Vestal, NY) and Windster had opportunities to increase the lead, but came up short.
Kipoliongo’s came in the 55th on a corner attempt, finding himself all alone on the far post, unable to score the goal. Felton’s came in the 86th when a header of his went just over the net, scraping the cross bar in the process. Windster’s came in the 88th when a shot of Kaffo’s caromed off the goalie right to Windster on the left side of the field, drilling a shot which bounced off the top of the cross bar.
In net for the Generals was Austin Santor (Chazy, NY). The sophomore played the entire game for the Herkimer, saving two. It gave him 12 shutouts this season, allowing his team to outscore opponents in their last four games 25-0.
Earning Region III Tournament MVP honors was Polk. In two regional games this year, the forward had two goals. Joining Polk on the All-Tournament team was Samuel Kersh (Liverpool, UK) and Windster. Kersh has started 13 games this season, helping the Generals only allow six goals which averages to 0.35 goals per game. As for Windster, the captain had one goal and two assist in the regional tournament.
Up next for the Generals is the NJCAA DIII National Tournament which is again host by Herkimer College. The team does not yet know who they face on November 13th at Wehrum Stadium. Seedings are to be announced on Monday (11/3). The Generals are looking to four-peat, something the program has never done. Head Coach Pepe Aragon had a chance to do it his first season at Herkimer, coming one game short in the national tournament.
Score:
Herkimer (16-0-1, 7-0) 2
Genesee (10-8, 3-0) 0
Haltime:
HERK 2
GCC 0
Scoring:
Herkimer
Ben Polk 1 goal
Femi Kaffo 1 goal
Jermaine Windster 1 assist
Goalies:
Herkimer
Austin Santor 2 saves
Genesee
Connor Halstead 4 saves
Next Game: TBD