There were battles galore as the Guilford boys' soccer team hosted Hand on If there were a night to upend Guilford, this was it as the Indians hadn't been on the field together in a week because of the flu. Though Hand kept up the pace and had stellar opportunities, Guilford kept its streak alive with a 2-0 win, scoring in the 28th minute of each half.

Oct. 28. Members of both teams fought through flu symptoms, spectators wrestled wind-blown umbrellas, and of course, the Tigers tried to tarnish the Indians' perfect 2009 season on a cold night with torrential rains.

If there were a night to upend Guilford, this was it as the Indians hadn't been on the field together in a week because of the flu. Though Hand kept up the pace and had stellar opportunities, Guilford kept its streak alive with a 2-0 win, scoring in the 28th minute of each half."Having a week off was tough for us, but the kids were ready to play mentally," said Guilford Coach Joe Maher. "I knew it would be a dogfight even if we'd practiced all week. Hand and us always go down to the wire-that's what we expect."

"Having a week off was tough for us, but the kids were ready to play mentally," said Guilford Coach Joe Maher. "I knew it would be a dogfight even if we'd practiced all week. Hand and us always go down to the wire-that's what we expect."The Indians caught a break in the first half as a foul was ruled inside the box and they were awarded a penalty kick.

The Indians caught a break in the first half as a foul was ruled inside the box and they were awarded a penalty kick. "I don't gripe about officiating, but the PK was going away from the goal-a non-dangerous situation to score-I didn't even think it was a foul," said Hand Coach Stan Latkowski. "But boom, they score, we're down 1-0, and it takes us out of the game a bit."

"I don't gripe about officiating, but the PK was going away from the goal-a non-dangerous situation to score-I didn't even think it was a foul," said Hand Coach Stan Latkowski. "But boom, they score, we're down 1-0, and it takes us out of the game a bit."Michael Jacobsen slipped the ball past Hand's keeper, Tucker Hackett, to hold an early advantage.

Michael Jacobsen slipped the ball past Hand's keeper, Tucker Hackett, to hold an early advantage."I was surprised it was a PK," said Maher. "I didn't know Matt Feldman was in the box when he was taken down."

"I was surprised it was a PK," said Maher. "I didn't know Matt Feldman was in the box when he was taken down." The game continued in physical fashion with both defensive lines and goalkeepers stepping up in a big way. The Tigers were anchored by Ben Lussier, Jake Ryan, Tyler Bauer, and Ryan Nautsch, with Elijah Beebe-Maddix, Chris Sondej, Kevin Jacobsen, and Michael Amento holding steady for Guilford.

The game continued in physical fashion with both defensive lines and goalkeepers stepping up in a big way. The Tigers were anchored by Ben Lussier, Jake Ryan, Tyler Bauer, and Ryan Nautsch, with Elijah Beebe-Maddix, Chris Sondej, Kevin Jacobsen, and Michael Amento holding steady for Guilford. Michael Jacobsen had several chances at widening Guilford's 1-0 margin, but Hackett came up with big saves and several opportunities went wide or high. Hackett's best save of the night, however, came when Feldman broke past the Tigers' defense to go one-on-one with Hackett, who slid out to kick the ball away.

Michael Jacobsen had several chances at widening Guilford's 1-0 margin, but Hackett came up with big saves and several opportunities went wide or high. Hackett's best save of the night, however, came when Feldman broke past the Tigers' defense to go one-on-one with Hackett, who slid out to kick the ball away.The Tigers weren't without opportunities with a balanced attack. Matt Zotto sent a long through ball to Ben Glassman, but the Indians got in the way. Glassman then worked a give-and-go with Chris Genco to earn a corner that was sent into a swarm of players before being cleared. Genco and Zotto closed the half with rockets from 25-plus yards out, but Guilford goalkeeper Nathan Trucks got his hands on the first and the second went just over the crossbar.

The Tigers weren't without opportunities with a balanced attack. Matt Zotto sent a long through ball to Ben Glassman, but the Indians got in the way. Glassman then worked a give-and-go with Chris Genco to earn a corner that was sent into a swarm of players before being cleared. Genco and Zotto closed the half with rockets from 25-plus yards out, but Guilford goalkeeper Nathan Trucks got his hands on the first and the second went just over the crossbar.Hand came out of halftime playing its strongest soccer of the game, controlling much of the play. Less than five minutes in, Zotto fed Billy Reynolds who took a point-blank shot that Trucks slid to kick away. Genco, RC Rizzitello, and Zotto all took their chances in the first 10 minutes and Andrew Haff's free kick sailed into a crowd of players where Reynolds got a head on it, but the ball went wide.

Hand came out of halftime playing its strongest soccer of the game, controlling much of the play. Less than five minutes in, Zotto fed Billy Reynolds who took a point-blank shot that Trucks slid to kick away. Genco, RC Rizzitello, and Zotto all took their chances in the first 10 minutes and Andrew Haff's free kick sailed into a crowd of players where Reynolds got a head on it, but the ball went wide."We took it to them for the first 15 minutes of the second half," said Latkowski. "Matt Zotto has stepped up and played well the last few games and Tucker made the big saves."

"We took it to them for the first 15 minutes of the second half," said Latkowski. "Matt Zotto has stepped up and played well the last few games and Tucker made the big saves." Though the Indians didn't have many chances, they made the most of their first as Michael Jacobsen touched the ball to Scott Leone, who maneuvered around the Hand defense and chipped the ball over Hackett's head for a 2-0 lead.

Though the Indians didn't have many chances, they made the most of their first as Michael Jacobsen touched the ball to Scott Leone, who maneuvered around the Hand defense and chipped the ball over Hackett's head for a 2-0 lead."Hand stepped up in the second half, started pushing people forward and taking chances and we had to withstand the tide but once we got the second goal, we were able to relax," said Maher.

"Hand stepped up in the second half, started pushing people forward and taking chances and we had to withstand the tide but once we got the second goal, we were able to relax," said Maher.Though the Tigers tried to push back into Guilford's zone, the Indians' held strong.

Though the Tigers tried to push back into Guilford's zone, the Indians' held strong."We had one breakdown, they score, and the game's over," said Latkowski. "I can't fault my boys for their effort. I'm disappointed in the officiating. Overall we played very well so it's a tough pill to swallow."

"We had one breakdown, they score, and the game's over," said Latkowski. "I can't fault my boys for their effort. I'm disappointed in the officiating. Overall we played very well so it's a tough pill to swallow."Holding a 2-0 lead, the clock was on the Indians' side and they fought off the final Hand attacks for the win.

Holding a 2-0 lead, the clock was on the Indians' side and they fought off the final Hand attacks for the win. "I was very pleased with our kids-we have a large senior class and they came out and showed their leadership, attitude, and dedication they've given us all year," said Maher. "Overall the midfield and backs did a good job, Nathan Trucks had some great saves, and up top, Jacobsen and Leone put pressure on Hand."

"I was very pleased with our kids-we have a large senior class and they came out and showed their leadership, attitude, and dedication they've given us all year," said Maher. "Overall the midfield and backs did a good job, Nathan Trucks had some great saves, and up top, Jacobsen and Leone put pressure on Hand."Hand topped Foran two days earlier on Senior Night with all of the seniors playing the majority of the game.

Hand topped Foran two days earlier on Senior Night with all of the seniors playing the majority of the game. "They all did a great job," said Latkowski. "I played the starting team the last 15 minutes of each half and they played the entire overtime. We scored with six minutes left in the second overtime. Cody Haff delivered a great ball into the box and Ian Richardson headed it home. Hackett made a couple of brilliant saves, especially in the second half. Ryan Savoca and Matt Zotto played especially well."

"They all did a great job," said Latkowski. "I played the starting team the last 15 minutes of each half and they played the entire overtime. We scored with six minutes left in the second overtime. Cody Haff delivered a great ball into the box and Ian Richardson headed it home. Hackett made a couple of brilliant saves, especially in the second half. Ryan Savoca and Matt Zotto played especially well."