Maple Grove's Trent Moore slides in to kick a loose ball away from Maple Hill's Eli Charlebois (13) during Saturday's NYS Class C state semifinal boys soccer game at Goshen Field. P-J photo by Christian Storms

GOSHEN — Of the four remaining Class C boys soccer teams the II-Maple Hill Wildcats’ program had the most state experience and the VI-Maple Grove Red Dragons had the least making their first state final four trip in program history. That experience paid off as the Wildcats held on during a wild second half push by the Red Dragons to win 5-2 at Goshen High School on Saturday. The Wildcats will go for their fourth state title in program history today against the I-Alexander Hamilton Raiders who shut out III-Cooperstown 4-0 in their semifinal game.

“They are a fantastic team with a fantastic history,” Maple Grove head coach Cara Abbey said about Maple Hill’s program. “It’s an honor to coach against Dan Gillespie, anybody should be in awe of what he has done in his 46 years as a head coach.”

While losing just short of its goal, Maple Grove now knows what it takes to get to states and expects the program to build from this experience and get back to states again.

“Just in the locker room Sam Eimiller was telling the story of when he was a freshman and we lost sectionals,” Abbey said about the postgame conversation. “He watched guys that he loved lose a game in a heartbreaking way and he said that’s what the younger kids are seeing tonight. As a freshman he watched that loss and said it’s my time now, what can I do with my next three years? And that’s the challenge he has to these younger kids, what can you do with your time? The older guys want them to take it further and I believe that we’ve got the guys in this program coming up that can.”

In the first half Maple Hill dominated every aspect of play, except goalkeeping, because its keeper was hardly tested.

Maple Grove's Luis Gradewald (5) pressures Maple Hill's Dillon Halvax (7). P-J photo by Christian Storms

The Wildcats seemed to get to every ball, had no trouble making passes and had Eli Charlebois on their side. Charlebois was the centerpiece to a very well run system and he thrived in the first half, scoring twice.

On both goals Charlebois used his speed to burn by Maple Grove’s veteran defense, first scoring a header off a cross then in the final two minutes of the first half he bursted down the left wing and cut in to release a laser of shot that caught Andrew Auer off guard finding the bottom right corner — a true goal scorers goal.

“They definitely are a very talented team,” Abbey stated. “Charlebois was powerful, great shot, he is going to go far in this game.”

Maple Grove had come too far this season to have its worse game of the year at the most important time. In the second half, the Red Dragons looked like a completely different team.

In the first half the Red Dragons couldn’t string anything together, but in the second they finally started putting together multiple passes on Maple Hill’s defensive side of the field.

Maple Grove's Alex MacCallum (10) protects the ball from Maple Hill's Eli Charlebois (13). P-J photo by Christian Storms

The early pressure didn’t result in anything, until finally a free kick was won just outside the box. Alex MacCallum sent a cross to the front of goal that kissed off the fingers of the keeper right into RJ Helt’s forehead and into the back of the net making it 2-1.

The goal breathed life into the Red Dragons, but it did not phase the experienced Wildcats. Just minutes after Helt’s goal, Charlebois found himself alone in the box again to get his third tally of the night.

Trailing by two again, Maple Grove needed its biggest offensive weapon to show up as he had all season long. Eli Moore had been quiet in the first half against the speedy Maple Hill defense, but they couldn’t silence him all game. Just minutes after the third Charlebois tally, Moore found himself in on a breakaway, but was stuffed by the keeper. That didn’t deter him from attacking again, on the next rush upfield Moore found some space on the right wing and blasted a goal to cut the deficit to one, 3-2, with roughly 20 minutes in the game remaining.

“We talked about why we’re here and when it all boils down, we’re here for love,” Abbey said about the halftime talk. “We’re here for love, love of each other, love for the game and that was the conversation at halftime. You fight for what you love and that’s what they did that second half.”

Just like after the Helt goal, Maple Hill had another response. The Wildcats once again caught the pressing Red Dragons on the counterattack, but this time it was Ethan Miller finding the back of the net and just like that the Red Dragons were back to where they started the half, trailing by two. Maple Hill scored its final goal from the penalty marker when Frank Thomas drove the ball past the diving hands of Andrew Auer.

Maple Grove's Trent Moore stays in front of Maple Hill's Eli Charlebois (13). P-J photo by Christian Storms

“I’m proud tonight because my guys made this a game,” Abbey said about the second half push. “Maple Hill had to work for that win, that wasn’t easy. They’re going to go home a little tired and bruised after this game because they had to work for it.”

In the remaining 15 minutes of the match the writing was certainly on the wall. Maple Hill had an answer for everything Maple Grove brought in the second half and claimed the Maple Bowl title and a place in the Class C state finals with the 5-2 victory.

The Maple Grove Red Dragons finished the best season in program history with a 16-3 record and a trip to the state semifinals.

“They’ve seen what this looks like,” Abbey said about the returning players competing at states. “They’ve got this experience and they’re going to be hungry to come back. I think you will see Maple Grove back here very soon.”

The Maple Grove Red Dragons boys soccer team poses with the NYS Class C semifinalist plaque. P-J photo by Christian Storms