October 25, 2012
With only three minutes left, the Continentals needed a goal to save their season. Leading scorer Anthony Balbo ’13, who had already notched a goal earlier, found himself one on one with the Tufts goalkeeper. A deft flip of the right foot put the ball past the keeper, just wide of the net.
The play was a fitting microcosm of a snake-bitten season for the men’s soccer team. Despite consistently competitive games, Hamilton (4-8-2 overall, 2-6-2 NESCAC) once again came up short in crunch time, falling 2-1 on the road to Tufts (7-3-3 overall, 4-2-3 NESCAC). The loss eliminated the Conts from NESCAC post-season play, with a finish just one point behind Tufts.
Having scored no goals in the first half, the Continentals were feeling fatigued from the unseasonably hot weather, with temperatures approaching 80 degrees on and off throughout the game. After the Jumbos opened the scoring in the 54th minute, Continental Jacob Frost ’15 earned his first career assist on Balbo’s team-leading seventh goal of the year.
“It was a good cross from Jacob,” credited the senior captain. “I beat my defender to get open in the box, and the pass just allowed me to chip it past the goalie.”
Near the end of the second half, the Continentals chose to aggressively place most of their players on a line of attack in the hopes of making their much-needed second goal of the game. While keeper Eric Boole ’13 made several critical saves, he and the defense finally broke with just 57 seconds left.
“One of our defenders turned over the ball when we were pushing forward trying to win the game,” reflected Coach Perry Nizzi, “and they just put it in on the breakaway.”
In a game where both teams expended tremendous amounts of energy, the contest truly became a war of attrition. The relentless playmaking of Balbo and senior Brian Whiston was a thorn in the Jumbos’ side throughout the game. After the demoralizing goal, Balbo nearly tied the score again, but was denied by Tufts goalkeeper, junior Wyatt Zeller. The gritty leadership of the two senior captains invigorated their teammates, especially towards the end of the game.
“I thought two players that came alive were Whiston and Balbo,” praised Coach Nizzi. “Anthony just got an incredible energy boost in the last 25 minutes of the game. He was doing everything you could expect from a great player, trying to put the team on his shoulders. Weston was right behind him, winning every ball, working his butt off. Those two seniors did all they could to get us a second goal.”
Unfortunately, the team came up short with the game on the line. For Balbo, the unceremonious end to his collegiate career fosters some ironic bittersweet memories.
“The missed play at the end was déjà vu, because when we clinched a playoff berth sophomore year against RPI, it was the same play—it was the same ball, same shot, but this one went just wide. That was pretty much how the season went. I thought we deserved to get in the conference playoffs and show we were as good as the other teams.”
In Tuesday’s non-conference away game against Utica College, the Continentals lost their footing once again. The first half looked promising for the Conts. Brian Whiston ’13 had one assist, and sophomore Griffin Abbott made the first and only goal for Hamilton. Goalie Eric Boole ’13, who stepped out after a red card with 26:09 left in the first half, made five saves. Fred Porges ’14, who replaced Boole, then saved two shots on goal before the break.
Ten minutes into the first half, Leo Nizzi ’14 directed senior Hennie Bosman’s corner kick towards Whiston in the middle of the box. After Whiston’s shot was deflected, Abbott gained control of the ball and sent it into the net for his second goal of the season. This was the only Continental’s goal during the game.
Although Utica took the lead with their second goal in the 62nd minute, the Conts did not go out without a fight. Whiston took a header off of junior Leo Nizzi’s free kick in the 88th minute, but Utica goalie Anthony Caruso ’14 saved the shot. The team played hard until the end, but no more opportunities to score on goal materialized.
This game was Utica’s first win over the Continentals in over two decades. Though the loss was a frustrating way to end the season, Balbo looks back at his collegiate soccer career fondly. He nostalgically remarked, “I am going to remember the coaches and players who have been through thick and thin these past few years. These guys are my family and that’s what I will remember most.”