After the game, the Hurricane team gathers one last time with its seniors on the home field to celebrate a perfect season, at 18-0-0. Photo by Tracy Toler.
Tonight's game was a special one for the Hurricane Redskins for several reasons. The Redskins (18-0-0) defeated the Riverside Warriors, 9-0, to solidify their regular season shutout record allowing zero goals by opponents all season. Braeden Collins knocked in the final goal for the Redskins to complete their regular season with 100 straight uncontested goals. Matthew Hale had a double hat trick with three goals and three assists.
Hurricane senior Zachary Montebell shows some fancy footwork just before the close of the first period. Photo by Tracy Toler.
For some of the teammates, though, none of that really mattered. What did count was the fact that the undefeated Redskins seniors played their final home game of the season after 4 years of playing together. At the game’s end, alongside the Redskins dugout, coaches’ and players’ eyes were heavy as the team remembered the past and were it has taken them.
“It’s been a really emotional night for me because my son is a senior this year and he graduates,” assistant coach Terry Keenan said. “Me and coach Dagostine came up with the kids from middle school all the way through now, so it’s hard right now. It’s tough to see this end, as far as being here goes.”
Hurricane High School, now ranked 11th by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, has been celebrated for maintaining one of the longest shutout streaks in high school soccer history. This season, they have outscored opponents by 100-0, and watching them on the field it is easy to see why.
The Redskins managed 40 shots on goal to the Warriors 2, they controlled possession of the ball throughout a large majority of the game, and their passing game was nothing but exceptional.
The Redskins will have to step their game up as they now head into the post-season to face the Patriots who are ranked fifth in the state, noon Saturday at Schoenbaum soccer stadium in Coonskin Park.
“GW has a really good team and we’re playing basically on their home field, so we’re gonna have to come ready to play because they will be ready to play as well, but our kids are seasoned enough and experienced enough that I think they’ll mentally be prepared for it,” Keenan said. “So, now it’s just a matter of playing, keeping the season going.”
Redskins JuniorBraeden Collins, who scored the final goal of the night, said Hurricane’s last game with George Washington was no joke.
“It was a close game,” Collins said. “They really came out strong. We need to come out much harder this game, but I think we’ll be ready.”
Next year, expect more of the same from the Redskins according to Keenan.
“We have a lot of, what we feel are good underclassmen, and unfortunately they have haven’t had the opportunity to play just because of the caliber of players that are out in front of them,” Keenan said. “But, they are by no means shabby players. I mean they can play, so we don’t feel like there’s going to be a huge drop off next year and I think people would be wrong to think that.
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