Calhoun eyes a playoff spot

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After a rocky start to the season that saw Calhoun boys’ soccer drop its first three league games, the Colts have surged back with a vengeance, going unbeaten in their last four to even their conference record at 3-3-1 and put themselves right in the thick of the postseason race.

With three games remaining beginning this week, the Colts sit in fifth place in Conference A1. The top four teams in the conference earn an automatic playoff spot along with any clubs with at least a .500 reacord.

Calhoun coach Sal Montoya heaped praise on the perseverance of his team. He recalled their Sept. 17 matchup against MacArthur, when they surrendered the go-ahead goal with six minutes left to drop to 0-3.

“It was demoralizing,” Montoya recalled. “But we have some of the biggest hearts I’ve ever seen. They do not know what quitting means.”

The Colts’ resurgence began two days later with a 2-1 victory at home against Sewanhaka. Both goals were scored by junior James Gavnoudias.

“He’s one of our go-to guys,” Montoya said of his junior midfielder, who has tallied five goals this year. “He has no problem taking on any defender.”

After that came a 5-2 road victory over Herricks – a team that sits one spot below them in the standings – which Montoya said was the “turning point” in the season. Two goals were netted by junior Dylan Smith, and senior Christian Crews, junior Emre Guvenilir and junior Anthony Toumazatos scored a goal apiece.

The Colts evened their record on Sept. 27 with a 1-0 win at home over Great Neck South. That game, too, was decided in the final minutes, but it was Smith who scored the decisive goal to put the Colts on the winning end this time.

A stout defense has played a major role in their recent success. Montoya lauded senior captain Conor Andrews, who he said is one of the best athletes he’s ever coached. And with 53 saves this season, junior keeper Flynn Shaw has been a strong asset.

“He’s a relentless goalie who is skillful with his feet,” Montoya said. “It’s an insurance for us to have him back there.”

If the Colts have shown a flair for thee dramatic this season, it was on full display Oct. 3 at Valley Stream Central. After a dominant start to the game in which Calhoun led 3-0, Montoya said a series of defensive breakdowns followed that allowed VSC to tally four straight goals.

Their backs against the ropes, the Colts had one last scoring opportunity on a corner kick in the game’s final seconds.

“We sent everybody up,” said Montoya. “At that point we had nothing to lose.”

After the ball bounced around in the penalty box, it was Andrews who put in the game tying goal, causing a celebration from his team that Montoya described as an “outburst of energy.”

With an abundance of juniors, Montoya said he’s excited for the future. But right now, his team is focused on the present, hoping to find a way into the postseason. With a week to go, the Colts face two teams – New Hyde Park and Long Beach – which are also vying for a playoff spot.