By PAUL GOTHAM
AVON, N.Y. — Josh Baraka connected on a golden goal with 6:50 remaining in the first overtime, and No. 1 seed Bishop Kearney/Chesterton secured the 2022 Section V Class B2 crown with a 2-1 victory over No. 2 seed Penn Yan at Avon High School, Saturday.
Baraka found the back of the net with a right-footed volley on a second-chance opportunity.
“That was a scrum,” BK/Chesterton head coach Stephen Strauss said. “That was messy. We found a way to put it in the net.”
Luke Tytler had the original chance on the play when the senior climbed the ladder to redirect the cross from the right corner flag.
A Penn Yan defender stopped the head ball at far post, but Baraka was there for the game winner.
89’ Josh Baraka connects! FINAL: Class B2 Kearney 2 Penn Yan 1 pic.twitter.com/5BfGJ4FtSe
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 30, 2022
“We’ve been really good on set pieces this year,” Strauss noted. “Our guys had the heart to get it done.”
The corner kick was the third in a succession of restarts in the Penn Yan end. The first two attempts came from the left flag. Penn Yan keeper Thomas Barden thwarted a shot at the goal line on the second try.
“I thought we had a really couple good looks at it. I thought that second one was going to go in. I’m thinking we got to score because if we don’t, we’re going to lose momentum.”
The championship was the fourth in Kearney program history and first since 2017.
“It’s special,” said Strauss who played on the 2004 Kearney that won the Class B title that season. “It’s really special. This is the easiest year I’ve ever had coaching because they’re just so mature. They’re fun. They like each other. There’s no egos. I’m really proud of them and really happy for them that they got to accomplish this today.”
Penn Yan struck first, though, in the game. Kaden Steele gave the Mustangs the lead with 18:01 remaining in the first half.
22’ Kaden Steel gives @PYAthletics an early 1-nil lead. pic.twitter.com/ZgXqQl4q6G
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 29, 2022
It was just the sixth goal Kearney keeper Sam Furioso had allowed this season.
“That was a good goal from Penn Yan,” Strauss commented. “It put us on our heels.”
Joey Triassi leveled the match right before halftime on a corner kick from the left side.
“That was a huge, huge goal right before halftime to keep us in it…We haven’t given up a lot of goals this year. Our defense has played great. We’ve got so many calm and composed seniors. Thankfully, we can lean on them to get us through those moments.
“They didn’t really flinch. As soon as we got the kickoff, we were back at it. There didn’t seem like there was any letdown. It showed with that goal we scored.”
38’ Joey Triassi levels the match for @BKHS_Sports pic.twitter.com/gaozFL8nWy
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 29, 2022
BK/Chesterton (16-1-1/No. 12 NYSSWA Class B) advances to the State Qualifier where it will face B1 champ Livonia (17-1-1/No. 17 NYSSWA Class B). A 5:45 start time is scheduled Wednesday at Canandaigua Academy.
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