HONESDALE — Emotions were running high Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the Daniel J. O’Neill Sports Complex as the Honesdale boys soccer team hosted West Scranton in a crucial late-season Lackawanna League showdown.
It was Senior Night, and local fans had come out in force to honor six talented athletes who’ve meant a great deal to the program over the course of the past four years.
Eli Carmody, Logan Lester, Karter Mikulak, Calvin Rosas, Carter Schweighofer and Aiden Tasker were feted in a moving ceremony prior to the match — one that left rookie head coach Mike Rosar feeling grateful.
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“I am so thankful for this group of seniors,” Rosar said. “I hope these young men will look back fondly, not only on what they gained from their time with the program and the brotherhood they forged, but also on what they contributed and the foundation they've helped lay for the future.”
And with those seniors leading the charge, Honesdale battled its way to a hard-fought 2-2 tie. The Hornets closed out their regular season with an overall record of 6-10-2.
Next up is a berth in the District 2 playoffs, which begin Tuesday, Oct. 27 and run through Nov. 5.
A grueling, physical battle
Honesdale and West Scranton battled back and forth through the early portion of this Lackawanna League contest.
But the Hornets struck first thanks to an electrifying play that brought the hometown fans to their feet.
Karter Mikulak rocketed down the right wing on a deep ball that Invaders keeper Bryce McMillan pursued out of the box. Mikulak got there first by an eyelash and unleashed a textbook cross to Logan Lester, who deftly redirected it.
Ethan Powers gathered in the ball and calmly buried it in the back of an empty net. The goal came at the 17:27 mark and gave Honesdale a 1-0 lead.
That advantage lasted until West Scranton’s Kellan Burnside evened things up. The senior striker tallied an unassisted goal with 4:21 left in the half, sending the game to intermission with a 1-1 score.
The Invaders surged into the lead less than five minutes into the second half as Maycol Gomez-Reyes notched an unassisted goal to put the visitors up 2-1.
A grueling, physical slugfest ensued for the rest of the match with both teams receiving yellow cards along the way. Finally, as time ticked down in regulation, Honesdale broke through.
Jase Berkihiser did the honors.
The young midfielder converted a direct kick with 5:56 remaining in regulation, curling the ball beautifully into the upper right corner of the net and setting off a celebration in the stands. Berkihiser is just a sophomore, and it marked the first goal of his varsity career.
The two teams then battled bitterly down the stretch, but the clock wound down to all zeroes for a 2-2 stalemate.
“I’m just so proud of our senior boys and the leadership they displayed,” Rosar said. “Despite falling behind on the scoreboard, they were able to help the team keep its composure and find a way to get back into the game.”
Challenges lie ahead
Honesdale closed out its regular season with a league record of 5-7-2.
The Hornets finished fifth in the Division II standings behind Dunmore (14-0-0), Mid Valley (9-3-2), Western Wayne (7–6-1) and Gregory the Great (5-6-3).
Pairings for the District 2 Class AAA tournament will be announced on Oct. 23 with playoff action commencing Oct. 27.
In all likelihood, Honesdale will enter the fray seeded sixth and draw an away match at No. 3 North Pocono. The Trojans are currently 9-4-4 with one match remaining, on the road at Wallenpaupack Area.
“These kids are so excited about playoffs,” Rosar said. “We plan on playing in a way that all Hornet fans will be proud of. With a little rest and a few of our guys closer to 100 percent, we're planning on being competitive in playoffs. Don't count this team out.”
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Honesdale boys soccer battles West Scranton to a draw on senior night