Boys U-14 Challenge Cup Final

N.Y. Hota Bavarians 7

Northport/Cow Harbor Rapids 2

Haverstraw, N.Y. -- N.Y. Hota/Bavarians coach Ignacio Fernandez just cannot understand his Boys Under-14 team. They start slow, but finish strong. That certainly was the case in the Challenge Cup final at the Eastern New York State Cup at the Nardi Soccer Complex on Saturday, June 6. After playing to a 1-1 halftime deadlock with the Northport/Cow Harbor Rapids, Hota broke out for six second-half goals en route to a 7-2 victory. The Rapids scored first and that woke up Hota. "Absolutely," Fernandez said. "My boys are a second-half team, always. Always." Except Fernandez can’t fathom why. "I don’t know," he said. "We’re tying to figure it out. We’d like to get them to change that. We’re working on it." Hota’s goal-scorers include Elvis Alguiluz (two goals) and Gabriel Fernandez, Andres Salcedo, Victor Medina and Julien Genuard. "The game was very competitive," Fernandez said. "Northport showed a lot of poise. I hope the team stays together. We’re going to see them again, for sure." Hota is in third place U-14 Second Division in the Long Island Junior Soccer League. Fernandez said his team still has a chance of winning the division. "I anticipate us moving to the First Division," he said. He added that Hota "is basically an international team. We have seven or eight different nationalities. We are very tight, meaning we are a team as well as best friends. Our kids hang out together or work together. A wonderful, wonderful team. A wonderful experience to coach them.

Challenge Cup: Feature Articles on the Winners

By Michael Lewis