Mount Greylock Boys Again Denied in Penalty Kick Shootout

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- The No. 3 Mount Greylock boys soccer team has become all too familiar with penalty kicks in tournament play; after losing in an epic round of them last season in the finals to Belchertown, they had the chance to turn the tables Friday evening against No. 6 Palmer, but came up short as the visitors won the shootou, 4-3, after 100 minutes of scoreless soccer.

 

They went three rounds head to head with goals from Greylock's Sam Dils, Crow Brennan, and Naka O'Connor.

 

For Palmer;  Matt Remmillard, Joao Soares, and Jorge Soares that netted their first three.

 

Mountie goalie Cal Filson gave his team an opening on Palmer's fourth shot, which he tipped over the net to keep it 3-3. But Mount Greylock's next shot went high, and the score remained tied after four rounds.

 

"I thought the tide had turned when Cal made that save." Mount Greylock coach Blair Dils said. "And you know Benni [McComish]; there's not another guy I'd rather have in that spot and I know he will live with that for a long time, but being a leader he stepped up, he didn't want to shoot last year."

 

It was Palmer's Tim Haley who sealed the deal to advance them to the semi-finals and put and end to the Mounties' season.

 

The two fought back and forth for 80 minutes of play; Greylock seeing opportunities in the first half that were denied by some outstanding saves by Palmer goalie Jake Reil.

 

"It's hard, ya know, not so much just the penalty kicks, but the opportunities we could of had to end it in regulation," Dils said.

 

The Mounties were without defenseman Kyle Bazonski, who was injured last Sunday in their 1-0 loss to Monument Mountain.

 

Dils said with the loss of Bazonski, they switched their formation around ,adding another player in the back which took away from their attack up front.

 

"We were trying to play a little different style tonight," he said. "I think we needed a couple of games with this system."

 

The Mounties finished their season 10-6-1. They lose two seniors from their squad; Filson and McComish.