Box Score ACPHS Men's Soccer fell to the #7-seeded Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks 3-2 on Saturday in their final game of the season. The Panthers finish the season with a record of 11-6-3, and head home from nationals having lost both of their contests. The Hawks improved their record to 14-5-1, but were also eliminated from nationals after going 1-1.

The Panthers did not start well in this one, as they were unable to maintain a significant amount of possession, which led to the Hawks creating the majority of chances in the 1^st half. Their best chance of the period came when sophomore Noah Keith (Rotterdam, NY / CBA) delivered a free kick into the box that caromed around until it found Keith's classmate Dylan Davie (Chittenango, NY / Chittenango). Davie wound up and got plenty of power behind his shot, but it was blocked before it could get to the net.

Illinois Tech found the opening goal in the 34^th minute after a perfectly placed shot from Diego Coronal. Coronal controlled a clearance from the ACPHS about 12 yards from goal, and beat senior Matt Houlihan (Levittown, NY / Kellenberg Memorial High School) at his near post. The Hawks would take a one goal lead into the break, having outshot ACPHS 10-2.

In the 2^nd half, the Panthers seemed to be happy to just pack up and head back to Albany after they conceded twice in just five minutes to put themselves in a 3-0 hole, but ACPHS had one more fight left in them. A spark was provided when Keith, as he has all year, curled a corner into a dangerous area for the Panthers to attack. With plenty of Albany players around him, it was Illinois Tech's Luke Holzman that put the ball into the net for an own goal, but the Panthers had life with 12 minutes left.

The comeback was well and truly on just three minutes later, when sophomore Edward Ahanmisi (Vancouver, BC / Bodwell High) cut the deficit to one. It was Keith again who delivered a long free kick that was punched out by Hawk keeper Anastasios Manolis, but his clearance landed right at the feet of Ahanmisi. The defender struck a low shot that got past a number of players to find the back of the net, and ACPHS was one goal away from a three-goal comeback.

They fought hard to find an equalizer, but were not able to break down the Hawk defense again. Ahanmisi had the best look at goal inside the final five minutes, but his well-struck shot was right at Manolis. ACPHS showed the resilience they have shown all season, and will head back to Albany with another year of nationals experience under their belt.

Heading into next year, ACPHS will look to defend their HVIAC Title with the help of their strong class of rising juniors that includes Keith, Ahanmisi, and Davie. The Panthers will have to do it without their seven seniors from this season, many of them regular starters for Albany. The athletics department would like to thank these men for their time here at ACPHS and wish them the best of luck in all of their future endeavors: Matt Houlihan, Arlo Wetherbee (Derry, NH / Pinkerton Academy), Dylan LaBarge (Ellenburg Depot, NY / Northern Adirondack Central High School), Nate Mackey (South New Berlin / Unadilla Valley), Kyle Jenkins (Holbrook, NY / Sachem East High School), Mina Girgis (Canyon Country, CA / John Burroughs HS), and Jack Hanlon (Guilderland, NY / Guilderland High School).

Though our men are heading home, Women's Soccer will play today in the national semifinals against the University of Maine-Fort Kent at 12:15 PM. Links to live stats and video for the game will be provided when available.