Six minutes remained in the first overtime period, and things were not looking pretty for Chaminade. There had been 44 minutes of not being able to convert. Despite having countless shots in close, there remained donuts on the scoreboard. The Flyers were in danger of walking away with nothing after an incredible regular season - one which saw them rise to a #5 national ranking from the United Soccer Coaches.
The Flyers needed a hero. They needed someone to push them through. They needed Jack Veletanga.
With five minutes left in the first of two 10-minute overtime periods, the St. John the Baptist Cougars knocked the ball into the air. Chaminade's Danny Bonilla instantly created position to control it on his foot. Spotting space on the left side after Bonilla possessed the ball, Veletanga strategically cut towards the near post. He generated separation from his defender, and Bonilla fed him a perfect pass.
Veletanga took his time and rifled it on net. As the ball rolled towards the far post, Cantiague Park went silent. The hopes and dreams of the Chaminade Flyers were in his hands - but even moreso, on his feet.
Everyone on the Flyers bench followed the ball with his eyes as it trickled closer to the goaline. Just as it was just about to push Chaminade to the championship, Cougars goalie Daniel Ospina dove to try and save St. John the Baptist's season. As he reached, the ball went just past his outstretched arms, rolled into the back of the net, giving the Flyers a 1-0 overtime victory.
The ecstatic Chaminade bench erupted and rushed the field as Veletanga had sealed the win with his golden goal.
"That play started with Danny Bonillla," raved Chaminade head coach Brian Anselmo after the game. "He nicely, calmly slotted it to Jack, who did a great job taking his time and burying it in the back of the net."
With the win, Chaminade is now slated to face St. Anthony's for the third time this year next Tuesday to decide the NSCHSAA League Championship.
The Flyers were riding a six-game winning streak leading up to the collision with the Cougars. They also swept the regular-season series against St. John the Baptist, winning 4-0 and 5-0.
As play started Tuesday afternoon, Chaminade controlled the pace, and within the first 10 minutes, the Flyers had numerous opportunities around the net. The first was from Kevin Duffy. Off a cross on the left wing from Veletanga, Duffy cut to the net and headed it towards Cougars goalie Daniel Ospina, but the ball was deflected by a defender and bounced off the crossbar.
The second chance came from Blake Donahue. As Veletanga led Donahue with a quick touch pass, the senior accelerated down the left side and got a shot off, but fired wide right.
Five minutes later, Chaminade found another scoring opportunity. Jack Dorsey maneuvered to the left wing and nailed one on net. The shot was blocked, but the rebound was available, allowing Donahue an opportunity to break the ice on the windy day. He couldn't convert, though, as the shot went wide.
Shortly after, the Flyers had a barrage of chances. Donahue was tripped up from around 15 yards out, resulting in a yellow card. The ensuing free kick was blocked by the Cougars' defense. Off a throw-in which bounced off footies in front, Charles Reina stepped into a 20-yard shot, which went high. Later, Dorsey blew past a defender down the end line as he crossed it in front - but, when the ball rolled inside the box, the Cougars got to it first, resulting in a turnover.
St. John the Baptist's defense was able to hold strong on its back line, as the rest of the half did not feature many Chaminade opportunities. Instead, back-and-forth action in the midfield brought the game to halftime as the score remained 0-0.
During the halftime huddle, Coach Anselmo, as well as assistants Matthew Chicavich and William Easteadt, offered familiar words to the team: "What are we going to do in the second half - come out flat, or play as a cohesive unit?" "If we score a goal, this game is going to open up!" "Calm down, be confident, don't be afraid to miss, and have composure."
The Flyers had some early shots on net in the second half. Off a corner kick from Veletanga on the far side, Antonio Ruffo darted inside the box to make a play. He stuck out his right foot and angled a shot on net, but Ospina made a diving save.
Just moments later, Bonilla sprinted up the right side. With the ball on his right foot, Bonilla slashed through three defenders and dumped it off to Donahue, who put a shot on net, but Ospina made a miraculous save as he sprawled in the air and stuck out his right hand to bat the ball away.
Time was ticking, and neither team could generate much. The Flyers' stupendous season was on the line, and they needed to turn on the jets.
Suddenly, Chaminade found its best chance of the game to that point. Off a give-and-go inside the box, Bonilla served up Dorsey for a shot within 10 yards. He swung it on net to the left side, but Ospina denied it, as he dove to the left. A minute later, Ruffo too was presented with a tremendous opportunity. A corner kick from the far side set up the cutting senior, who slid towards the ball as it trickled inside the box, but Ospina made another massive save.
As the clock ticked down and light faded on the fall afternoon, the temperature cooled, but the intensity was just heating up, as Chaminade tried to make the final push to break open this game in the late stages.
Ronin McAluffie started the rally with a beautiful pass to Thomas Prince. Prince put it on net, but Ospina made the save. Later, Robert Malave played it to himself up the right touchline and needled a pass into Donahue, who lofted it on net; again, Ospina was up to the task.
As Chaminade's fruitless attempts to convert mounted, the tension grew on the Flyers' bench.
"We have to want it! We have to get to the ball first!" screamed Anselmo from the sidelines.
With four minutes left in regulation, the Flyers peppered shots on the cage to try and take the lead. Up the right side, Dorsey weaved around defenders to create a two-on-one. As he wheeled into the box, he drew a slide from the defender and played it over to Diego Abrego, but the pass was snatched by a diving Ospina.
The last opportunity before the horn sounded came off a corner from Donahue. He nailed it to the far post, where Bonilla was situated, but he missed the ball as he swung his right leg.
When regulation came to a close, Coach Chicavich, believing in his star, put his arm around the senior Donahue, encouraging him to "End this match now!"
Trying to get a spark from his offense, Coach Anselmo made a crucial change in his team's formation heading into overtime. He switched from having one forward on the pitch to having two, calling on Prince to push forward on the offensive end.
"We wanted to use Thomas's physicality and aggressiveness, so we decided to slide him in," explained Coach Anselmo. "We thought it would open up gaps and space, which would allow us to create more chances. It did exactly that."
As the Flyers huddled up just before extra time started, Coach Anselmo had one final message for his team: "Get back to being ourselves. Buckle down, do what we do, stay composed, be relaxed, and play our soccer! Don't let them play harder than you! Let's go!"
Reina broke the huddle, exclaiming, "This is our season!" as the Flyers geared up for OT.
Chaminade possessed the ball for much of the first four minutes of extra time. Donahue put the biggest attempt that the Flyers had wide of the net, keeping the score level at 0…for the moment.
Just one minute later, the Crimson and Gold finally got one past Ospina, as Veletanga propelled the Flyers to the final, crushing the hopes and dreams of the Cougars faithful in the process.
Coach Anselmo knows the mindset that Chaminade needs to have against St. Anthony's in the Championship Final next Tuesday: "Same as it has been all year - play hard, play together, and stick to the things that make us successful."
The Flyers and the Friars will clash at 7 p.m. on November 5th at Adelphi University, with the winner of the Election Day showdown moving on to the CHSAA state semifinals - to be held at St. John's University on Friday, November 8th.
