Tuesday October 23, 2012

ADAMS -- After a two-year hiatus, the Hoosac Valley boys' soccer team is back in the Western Massachusetts tournament.

Nick Ryan made sure to get the Hurricanes back to the tournament by scoring all three of the goals in Monday's 3-0 win over Drury, at Renfrew Park. The victory also clinched at least a share of the South Division title for the Hurricanes.

"It feels really good," senior Matt Bresett said. "It's just unbelievable the strides we've made between last season till now."

Bresett assisted on Ryan's first goal with 29 minutes to play in the first half. Ryan floated a shot from about 35 yards out that caught Drury's Joe Liporace too far out off his line. He kept back peddling, but couldn't get a hand on the ball.

Before the goal Hoosac had a hard time sustaining any pressure as the Blue Devils played a solid defense, keeping the ball in the midfield.

"I was worried with the night game, that Drury was going to come out firing and ready. But, I knew once we scored they were going to be in shambles," Hoosac coach Camilo Bermudez said. "Once [we scored] everybody relaxed and we kept possession. We really didn't let them get their offense going."

Drury was able to muster up only three shots through the game, only one of which Hoosac keeper Tom Galisa needed to make a save on.

"I thought Drury played a really good game," Bermudez said. "I thought they were organized and they were prepared. I

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really think great teams always pull out the victories, and it's just really coming together for us."

Hoosac dominated offensive play throughout the game, keeping Drury pinned back. The Hurricanes fired 17 shots on goal and forced Liporace to make nine saves.

"It's tough being a keeper," Drury coach Greg Caproni said. "You make some great saves, but nobody remembers the great saves because you got scored on. It's really a thankless position."

Ryan added the insurance goal six minutes after his first by taking a long pass from Shaun Knapp and beating two Drury defenders for the goal.

He completed the hat trick with nine minutes to play in the game. Knapp crossed the ball through the 18-yard box and Ryan chased it down, slidding to send it to the back of the net for the 3-0 lead.

"We played really well as a team. We got the through balls and we found the back of the net," Ryan said. "I had some great assists by my teammates all night."

The Hurricanes can clinch the South title outright with a win or a tie against Lee on Thursday.