By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Sean Hopkins and his Pittsford Sutherland Knights set out this year looking to allow fewer than 10 total goals during the regular season, so it should come as no surprise when the Knights shut out one of the more prolific offenses in Section V.
And that’s what happened Friday night on Eastridge High School’s Erna Frank Field.
“We’re always a defense-first team,” Hopkins said after Sutherland’s 2-nil win over Wayne in a Section V Boys’ Class A semi-final. “We rely on our defense a lot.”
Facing a team in the Eagles that averaged nearly four goals per game, the Knights were at their best.
“I watched some of their film,” Hopkins explained. “I noticed that they’re pretty good on corner kicks, winning a lot of balls and scoring goals of corners. We wanted to try and prevent them from getting those opportunities. We settled in and kept the ball a lot which helped keep them away from our end.”
The shutout was the fifth in the past seven games and 10th this season for the Knights (16-1-2).
“Our defense just does a really good job. They do a nice job communicating. They do a nice job talking to each other, changing marks and switching. Then Carter (Kladstrup) is behind them. He’s really good in goal. He came up big early. They had an opportunity, and he made a nice save.”
David Adeleke-Adedoyin and Will Field supplied the offense.
Adeleke-Adedoyin converted on a second-chance opportunity in the game’s 55th minute. The goal was the fourth this season for the senior who is a center back by trade but made the move forward during the middle of the season.
“We were kind of upset with the amount we were scoring,” Hopkins said. “He had been out with a concussion. When he came back, we decided to see if we could get him a little bit more into the offense. He still drops back in sometimes if one of the center backs need, he’s there.”
Field iced the game in the 76th minute with his team-leading 16th marker of the season.
“He always works hard,” Hopkins stated. “People know about him, and he gets a little extra attention. He always finds a way to get through.
Field combined on a give-and-go with teammate Henry Leahy and finished inside the 18-yard box.
76’ GOAL Will Field and Henry Leahy combine on the five-and-go. Leahy finishes. @SHSsoccersquad 2-0 pic.twitter.com/UNNjvlFSMU
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 29, 2021
“He scored that goal late to clinch it which was nice. We always know we’re going to get that hard work out of Will.”
Sutherland (No. 2 NYSSWA Class A) advances for a chance to win its third straight sectional title and fourth in five years. The Knights will also be making their seventh trip to a final in nine years.
Sutherland will face Churchville-Chili (No. 11 NYSSWA Class A) in a rematch of last year’s final, a game the Knights won 2-0.
A 5 p.m. kick off is scheduled Tuesday at Eastridge High School.
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