The Post season of Soccer commenced on Monday, October 17th, 2011. Everything was on the line this game. #2 seeded Wildcats were pitted against #3 Rapids of Rochester. In our last meeting here at RSD, we lost a heartbreaker, but we later avenged our lost, by defeating them on their field. Monday was all about settling the score, and to determine who has the right to play for the coveted Championship Trophy! It's been too long since we have had an opportunity to do this, and we were not going to take this game lightly, too much was at stake on this breezy, beautiful afternoon.

Just when you thought the stars were algined perfectly, devastating news pops up. Our rookie phenom goalie, Pauly Gentzke suffered an injury during a hockey game over the weekend, preventing him from playing in this pivotal game. Unfortunately, he's been our one and only goalie with no backup prepared (for a situation like this). Imagine an NFL team with no backup Quarterback, and the star QB goes down. Bad news! Who was going to step up, and take over such a important role on the field? Have no fear, we have a world-renowkn goalie, Head Coach, Mary Cook who can spot a goalie from a mile away. Indeed she did, when she picked Grandpa Clark-Sulkey. Keep in mind, Mr. Sulkey has been injured and out of play since the first opening minutes of Game 1, but he was cleared to play in this playoff game. Cook was extremely confident in her choice, and the entire team and staff were in full support of her decision.

This was our opportunity to rebound from a huge loss and to gain a little redemption. After suffering a tough loss to Union Springs Academy (USA) last week, the team was down and out, but as we all know, the post season is a completely new and different season. Everyone is on an even playing field. If we win this game, we most likely move on to have our one last shot at Team USA, something all our student-athletes want. All we have is this little hurdle, known as the Rapids.

Cook made some systematic changes in our lineup that would best fit our style of play, it would just be a matter of time to see if these subtle changes would make all the difference. In most games, the coin toss tends to be meaningless, but due to the windy conditions, it was imperative that we wanted to be shooting at the East End Goal with the wind. Lo and behold, we won the toss and was able to defend the West Side.

Captain Artinian has literally been counting the seconds until this moment, and it was finally here. 22 student-athletes rushed the field, ready to embark on the most important game of the season. With only one team able to advance, everyone knew what was at stake and one could feel the tension in the air as the opening kickoff was about commence. As the game started, both teams were playing extremely aggresive, both trying to make a statement early on. Neither team could take advantage early on.

It was not until 12 minutes into the game, we were given a penalty kick from 30 yards out. John Stewart lines up to take the shot, but Cook was yelling from the sidelines, "Stewart, get down the field, let Stowell take the shot.!!!!" No response...John, let JEREMY take the shot!"....still no luck. "LET JEREMY TAKE THE SHOT, John !!!" Finally, John went down the field as Mr. Stowell attempted the shot. During this commotion, Rapids were able to set up defensively, with a well-built wall to prevent Jeremy from getting a shot on goal.

Whistle blows, Jeremy strikes the top of the ball with so much force that it blew right over the wall in a blink of the eye, and with the wind blowing in our favor, the ball took a new life as the wind took control of it, and was on path to go into the goal. Only one problem, the goalie was well-prepared for this scenario as he jumps in the air with his hands out ready to catch the ball, but due to the wind and power the Stowell put into the ball, it deflects off the goalie's hand and finds its way to the back of the net, allowing the Wildcats to take a 1-0 lead!

Part 1 of our game plan was executed perfectly, "Score First !" Now, if we can just continue with the rest of the plan, we will be on our way to Cohocton this weekend, but the Rapids were not just going to give up. And the battle ensued with the Rapids taking some legit shots on goal, but Grandpa Clark-Sulkey stepped it up and made some spectacular saves in goal. Cook sure knows how to spot the inner goalie in someone. He seemed to be a natural out there for his very first game. We're talking a high stakes situation as well. He's not even a Senoir nor a Junior, just a mere Sophomore.

Near the end of the first half, there was some chaos happening in front of the Rapids goal when all of a sudden, Mr. John Stewart was able to get a foot on the ball and eek it past the goalie to take a 2-0 lead into halftime. Team Wildcats were thrilled to see the lead at 2-0, but knew the Rapids are known to turn it up a notch in the second half. Unfortunately, our second halves have not been our best, but like mentioned before, it's a new season. All of a sudden, out of the corner of our eye, we see this Rapids player sprinting from the parking lot, their all-star Defensive Stopper has arrived. The Rapids team was elated to see their star able to attend the game. This did not fluster nor intimidate us as we were confident we were able to finish this game on the victorious side.

With the wnd against us this half, we knew we would have to keep the ball low. We knew it was going to be a challenge, but with a 2-0 cushion, we just needed to play our best and let the pieces fall where they do. 22 student-athletes rushed the field to start the second half. 40 minutes was the only thing in our way from getting to the championship game. A mere 2400 seconds. Could the Wildcats do it? Could they rise to the occasion? Only time will tell. From the looks on their faces, I could honestly tell you that there was nothing that was going to stop them. Not even their Captain that recently arrived on scene. We worked too hard this season to end this way, on our field. not tonight, not on my clock!

Second half started, and it was the Rapids who were taking advantage of the wind, sailing the ball over onto our defensive side. The Rapids did a great job keeping the ball on our side of the field, allowing more opportunity to take shots on goal. Luckily, our defense, lead by Alosha Cerney and Joshua Brown did a phenomenal job keeping the ball out of the hands of our backup goalie! Rookies, Mitchell and McNulty did a superb job keeping the ball on the outside as well on defense. At the 23rd minute of the second half, with the score still 2-0, a Rapids player takes a shot 15 yards out that ricochets off Clark-Sulkey's hand, gets behind Clark-Sulkey, but without hesitation, Grandpa Clark Sulkey dives backward to grab the ball before it fully crosses the line. It was the most pivotal moment of the game as if the Rapids scored, it would have swayed the momentum entirely in the Rapids favor, but the stellar save only motivated us more.

MVP Gentzke III sealed our fate with 3 consecutives goals late in the second half to earn his THIRD hat-trick of the season and catapulting us into the Championship game against Team USA as they went on to defeat the Scarlet Knights 5-2.

RSD looks to bring home their first WNYCAA Championship this Saturday Night in Cohocton at 7:20PM. Bring your friends, your family, your pet turtle, because it's one game you do not want to miss !!!! Hope to see you all there!

Current Record: 9-2-1 (10-2-1 sounds so good, doesn't it?!?!?!!?)