By PAUL GOTHAM
SPENCEPORT, N.Y. — For the second time in as many games, it was Caio De Medeiros providing the game winner for the Brighton Barons. Tuesday night, the senior delivered in the waning moments of overtime.
“It’s all about not giving up,” said De Medeioros who nearly hit the game winner moments earlier. “That’s what we’ve talked about all season. We didn’t give up. I saw Rikki (Nord) getting the ball and I knew that he was going to cross that. I just ran to the box when I saw the ball coming in.”
Similar to last Friday’s semifinal match, De Medeiros headed in the winner. This one came with 1:44 left in overtime.
“It feels so amazing,” Nord said. “Finishing out in overtime, there’s nothing better than that. I think this one will definitely go down in Brighton history.”
The play started near midfield along the left wing where Nord gathered a loose ball. The senior served a cross from 40 yards away to his teammate.
“I saw Rikki whip it across, and I was thinking it was just going to be a scrum,” eighth-year head coach Adam Hiller said. “Caio all of sudden just got his head on it. It didn’t even look like he elevated that much. It looked like he had really good positioning.”
Caio De Medeiros nods in the Rikki Nord lead and @BCSDSports claims the @SecVBoysSoccer Class A title. pic.twitter.com/yIOmDk8BfM
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 30, 2018
One year after falling in the Class A1 final, Brighton (16-4-0/No. 15 NYSSWA) claimed its first sectional championship since taking the A1 title in 2012.
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“It’s a great feeling,” Hiller said. “You look at the last two games against Spencerport (Friday in the semifinals) we scored with 12 (minutes) left. This game, they could have had a couple. They had a few counterattacks on us. Even after Caio hit the crossbar, they came down and Theo Viggiani-Cole made a great defensive play.”
Churchville (17-3-0/No. 3 NYSSWA) came into the game riding an eight-game winning streak.
“It was a great game between two great teams,” C-C head coach John Mahoney said. “Both teams were defending from the 18 to the 18 and not letting anything in. It was a phenomenal game. I think we deserved to be co-champs, but that’s not what happened in the end.”
Saints goalkeeper Zach Main denied De Medeiros twice earlier in the game. In the first half, De Medeiros let loose with a blast from just outside the 18, on which Main made a sprawling save. In the overtime, Main tipped a De Medeiros flick that was heading for the back of the net.
Zach Main denies Caio De Medeiros @CCCSDathletics @BCSDSports pic.twitter.com/5KCeATExMY
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 30, 2018
“Credit to Churchville,” De Medeiros stated. “They played really, really well. We just did our job. That play we had been waiting for that the whole game basically. That play is just practice, practice, practice. We got it, twice in a row.”
The Barons advanced to the NYS Far West Regional where they will meet Williamsville East – the Section VI A1 champ which beat Lewiston-Porter to reach Saturday’s match.
“It’s a good feeling,” Hiller said smiling. “Now I gotta have a pasta party at my house on Friday night because that was the deal.”
A 5 PM start time is scheduled at Sweet Home High School.
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