The Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Final was held on Sunday November, 6 2023 at the Word of Life Bible Institute in Pottersville, NY.
The match featured #1 Seed, Five Towns College and #2 Seed, Berkeley College. This is the second year in a row that both institutions would face one another in the title game, Berkeley College defeated Five Towns College in last seasons conference final.
When the two faced-off earlier in the regular season, the Sound bested the Knights by the score of 5-0.
The tables would turn today with Berkeley College claiming back-to-back conference titles in a thrilling championship match.
A rather non-eventful first half saw both teams pressing to strike first. This occurred at the 33:00 minute when Sebastian Cuenca scored an unassisted goal placing the Sound on top, and the lone goal in the first 45:00 minutes of the match.
The second half opened with Sebastian Cuenca finding Angel Chavez for a second Sound goal and an early lead. Berkeley College would get on the score board twenty minutes later with an unassisted goal by Marco DaSilva.
The Knights would capitalize on the momentum shift and take a one goal lead when back-to-back goals were scored within two minutes of one another. Esteban Pedrueza would find Ian Pallardel to tie the game at 2-2. Moments later, Pedrueza would score himself giving Berkeley College a 1 goal advantage.
The Sound would not go away quietly with Juan Lopez placing the ball into the Berkeley College net, and tying the game at 3-3. This would be the final goal in regulation.
The first overtime saw the Knights strike first with an unassisted goal by Esteban Pedrueza. Berkeley College could not end the overtime period as, Sebastian Cuenca would keep the Sound alive with an unassisted goal ending with a 4-4 tie.
By rule, this set up a shoot out between both teams. Each team selects specific members to face-off against the others goalie. Steven Paguada would defend the Sound goal, while Victor Batista would be in net for Berkeley College.
In the opening stages both the Sound and Knights would remain neck and neck. Anthony Campos, Andre Hickling, and Sebastian Cuenca scoring for the Sound; Suad Lukovic, Alan Martinez, and Esteban Pedrueza scoring for the Knights.
Steven Paguada denied Brandon Chaves the chance to score,while Juan Lopez would put Five Towns College ahead.
Ian Pallardel would bring the Knights back to even, and Victor Batista would save the shot from Angel Chavez.
Lucas Zuelta and Agustin Nunez, Josue Fuentes and Ivano Arizaga; all struck to keep both teams tied at 6-6.
Yammir Yaffer and Jorge Lliguizaca had missed opportunities to put either team ahead leaving the score at 6-6 after round eight.
Fabrizio Godos would place a shot past Steven Paguada giving Berkeley College a 7-6 lead to open round 9.
Victor Batista would save a Sebastian Gomez shot ending the shoot out 7-6, and a Berkeley College victory.
Esteban Pedrueza, from Berkeley College was named Tournament MVP. This will be Back-to-Back title wins for the Knights.
