By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N. Y. — Colin Shanahan connected in the 65th minute, and top-seeded McQuaid outlasted No. 4 Hilton 2-1 to clinch a spot in Tuesday’s Section V Class AA Boys’ championship.
Tied at one, Shanahan redirected a ball from just outside the 6-yard box for the eventual game winner.
“It was a little bit chaotic,” the senior midfielder said. “But it’s great to move on. It was a very stressful end to the game, but we feel we deserve to move on.”
65’ @AthleticsMcQ Colin Shanahan gives the Jesuit Knights a 2-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/1EZiaGkuCW
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 27, 2022
The winning play started 50 yards away where Iain Bird played a free kick to the left side of Hilton’s 18-yard box. Kevin Miller won a ball in the air and redirected it into the goal mouth for the awaiting Shanahan.
“It was so quick,” he said of the play. “It was all so quick. The ball came in, great header. It was right there for me and put it away.”
Casey Montesano gave McQuaid the lead in the game’s 25th minute when the senior scored from the right flank.
The game stayed that way for the first 21 minutes of the second half.
62’ Kyle Cunningham steps in front of a clearing and buries a shot to level the match. @HiltonSoccer 1 @AthleticsMcQ 1 pic.twitter.com/f0hT0m67Fu
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 27, 2022
“We knew it wasn’t going to stay a one-zero game,” Shanahan said. “It wasn’t going to finish one-zero. Whether it was us making two-zero or them making it one-one, there was going to be another goal that happened.”
Hilton’s Kyle Cunningham took advantage of an open net to level the match. McQuaid keeper Niyen Ruffin came off his line to punch a ball out of the 18-yard box. Cunningham was in the right spot and one-timed a shot from 25 yards out.
25’ Casey Montesano starts the scoring . @AthleticsMcQ 1 Hilton 0 pic.twitter.com/CMHNAADXaW
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 27, 2022
Three minutes later, Shanahan had the game winner.
“It was just looking at the ball. I looked toward the goal, but I was right there. You just need to have contact on it. I found the back of the net.”
McQuaid will play the Fairport-Brighton winner in Tuesday’s championship. Time and location to be determined.
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