By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Deu Awuok converted the decisive penalty kick as the Bishop Kearney Kings edged the Aquinas Institute Li’l Irish, 5-4 in opening round action of the 2016 Catholic Cup at Wegmans Field, Friday night.
It was fitting the senior midfielder scored the game-winner. It was Awuok’s effort which put Kearney in position to win.
Awuok set up teammate Dante Greene with a cross from the left flank to level the match at one in the 52nd minute.
“He’s our go guy,” said Kearney head coach Stephen Strauss. “He’s the one who makes us go. He really connects everybody together – the defense, the midfields and the forwards.”
Awuok won a 50-50 ball in the defensive half before rushing the length of the field.
“That play he made to get us out of the back and that cross he had to Dante was just perfection,” Strauss added. “We wouldn’t have been able to win without it.”
Greene redirected the pass with his first touch from just inside the 18-yard box.
“I’m happy for him,” Strauss said of Greene. “He’s been struggling. That was his first goal. He’s been working on that tuck finish, and he buried that one. I hope this sets him off for the rest of the year.”
Junior goalkeeper David Tierney took over from there making a point blank save in the first overtime off the foot of Aidan Kopacz and followed that in the second overtime with another stop on a Luke Putnam header attempt off a corner kick.
“David is growing up every day,” Strauss noted. “This is his first year starting on varsity. Every game he gets a little bit better, a little bit more comfortable. We’re hoping he starts to take on that leadership role with the defense. Tonight was a great start for him. Keep going in the right direction for sure.”
Aquinas grabbed the lead in the game’s 32nd minute. Senior Dom Chiarella took a ball back from Kopacz and connected from 25 yards. The Li’l threatened to add to the lead with a free kick just before the half, but Kearney’s defense didn’t flinch.
Aquinas created a flurry in front of the net on a corner kick in the 59th minute. Tierney stood tall again.
“Every time you play Aquinas it’s exciting,” Strauss commented. “They’re a great team. They had the better for most of it tonight, but we found a way to put one in there.”
Tierney stopped AQ’s third PK attempt, and the Irish sailed the final shot over the bar securing the win.
Bishop Kearney improved to 4-2-1 with the win. The Kings will play the Canisius Crusaders in the finals of the Catholic Cup. A noon kickoff is scheduled at Wegmans Stadium. Canisius defeated McQuaid, 1-0 in the first match of the night.
Aquinas falls to 1-6-1 on the season and will play McQuaid in the Saturday’s consolation game. A 10:30 a.m. start is slated.
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