FLASHBACK: Relive past Mattituck boys soccer championships

Tears of Joy: Mattituck wins first title since 1982

Published Nov. 20, 2003

Written by Bob Liepa

ONEONTA — Endings are often accompanied by tears, and this ending was no different.

After the final minute of the New York State Class C boys soccer final was announced, Mattituck tuckers coach Mat Litchhult found himself choked with emotion. Tears of joy mixed with tears of sadness.

“I couldn’t hold it back,” Litchhult said after watching his team play together for the last time. “I just couldn’t fight back the tears, because these guys mean so much to me. These guys will always have a place in my heart.”

Not to mention a lofty place in Mattituck’s proud soccer history.

For the first time, the Tuckers gained sole possession of a state championship Sunday afternoon when they finished off the Manlius Pebble Hill Trojans, 2-0. The exultant Tuckers piled on top of each other and their fans after time expired at the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s Bettiol Field.

“It’s unbelievable,” Tuckers midfielder Andrew Huey said amid the celebratory scene. “Unbelievable.”

Tuckers defender Kyle Steele said, “This is a memory we’re going to have for the rest of our lives.”

The Tuckers will remember the way they capped off a 22-1 season with their first state title since 1982, when they shared the crown with the Holland Central Dutchmen. They will remember the way they quickly recovered from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Holland in Saturday’s semifinal, 3-1. They will remember the way they pretty much had their way with Manlius (21-1-1) int he final. They will remember the way they received a boost in the form of first-half goals by senior forwards Ned Baker and Marty Tarpey. They will remember the way midfielder Brett Moyer and his friends kept close tabs on Manlius’ best player, Brandon Oot, keeping him off the scoresheet. And they will remember the way their defense, once again, was rocksteady, posting its 15th shutout.

All in all, it was an impressive display, “Some of the soccer out there was great to watch,” said Litchhult, a former Mattituck player, who’s in his second year as varsity coach.

Before the Tuckers got off their team bus for Sunday’s game, Litchhult told the players, “There’s only one way to go out, go out with a win.”

They listened.

With all of the experience and talent The Tuckers had available, Baker, who hadn’t played school soccer in two years, was the one who broke the ice Sunday with his second goal in as many days and third of the year. He nodded in a cross from Matt Wilsberg 10 minutes, 32 seconds into the match.

“That’s what coach said, “Jump on them early, and they’ll collapse,” said Huey.

The Tuckers were aided by the return of Huey, who had to sit out the final because of a red-card suspension. But Huey certainly made his presence felt early. It was his thrown-in that led to Tarpey’s insurance goal at 16:03.  Huey’s throw-in skipped off the top of a defender’s head, toward the goal, where Tarpey made the most of the half-chance, delivering a lethal right-footed shot for his team-leading 19th goal of the year.

The best scoring opportunity for the Trojans came shortly before halftime when the Tuckers scrambled to clear Anthony Venezia’s dangerous drive into the slick, muddy goalmouth, where players from both sides lost their footing.

For the most part, though, it was clear sailing for the Tuckers, whose goalkeeper, Jordan Viola, needed to make only two saves. Moyer, who was named the most valuable player of the final, did a good job marking OOt. Oot, who has scored over 40 goals this year and is in the U.S. under-17 national player pool, took five of his team’s seven shots, but was held goalless.

“The better team won today,” said Trojans coach Dan Ridall, whose team is in its first year as a Class C team after having won Clas D titles in 2000 and 2001. “They’re the best teams we’ve seen all year.”

Quite possibly, it’s the best Mattituck team ever, although the Tuckers are quick to point out that it’s difficult to compare teams from different eras. Still, this was a team that had high expectations.

“They lived up to them,” said Litchhult, whose team received an award at the final hour for exemplary sportsmanship. “These guys are a tremendous bunch. Their work rate, they’re just relentless. They’re never satisfied. Just getting here wasn’t satisfying enough.”

Both the Mattituck boys and girls soccer teams were sent off on the upstate trips with a parade and bonfire last Wednesday night. (The girls team took second in the state Class C tournament.) They were welcomed home in style, too, at Mattituck High School by fans who waited to greet them Sunday night. “It seemed like just about everybody in the town was there,” Litchhult said.

For Mattituck’s 13 seniors, nine of whom were regular starters, the state title marks the end of their high school careers. “It was just amazing,” Steele said, “the best experience of my life.”

All of those players — and their coaches — are bound together by their connection to this state championship.

“I’ll never forget them,” Litchhult said. “They’ll never forget each other.”