RallyNorth.net

Sat, Nov 08, 2014 06:15 PM @ Manchester Central

Team	1st	2nd	Final
Pinkerton	1	1	2
Manchester Central	1	0	1

Coutts the hero again, leads Pinkerton to title

Saturday, December, 27 By Christopher Smith

HOOKSETT, N.H. — Colin Coutts scored the decisive PK goal in Pinkerton's shootout win over Hanover in the Division 1 semifinals Wednesday.  

He one-upped himself Saturday.

After leaving the game in the first half when a collision caused him a bloody nose, Coutts returned as quick as possible and he netted the game-winner in the 69th minute to lift seventh-seeded Pinkerton 2-1 over top-seeded Manchester Central in the Division 1 boys soccer championship here at Southern New Hampshire University. 

The assist on Coutts' goal was awarded to Kyle Hicks. Coutts headed it in off a scramble in front of the net.

"I just saw it coming in and I knew I just had to get a head on it and try to put it on the frame and everything worked out," Coutts said. "Kids dream of this moment. Just a dream come true. Nothing could have been better." 

Coutts added about his first-half injury, "I went up for a head ball and someone's back of the head hit me in the face. Bloody nose. Had to go off. Just went back on (the field) as soon as possible." 

Pinkerton absolutely dominated the stat sheet. It recorded 18 shots with 10 on net. Manchester Central recorded just five shots with four on net. 

That's shocking considering how well Manchester Central (16-3-1) had been playing ever since a 2-0 loss to Exeter on Oct. 6. Since then, Manchester Central entered Saturday with nine straight wins, including seven shutouts during that span.

Overall, Manchester Central outscored all 19 teams it faced before Saturday by a combined 49-13. It outscored its opponents 48-8 in its 16 combined wins. 

But never underestimate a team as hungry as Pinkerton (14-5-1).

"We knew we were the seventh seed and we had to upset other teams but we knew we could do it," Coutts said. "We just stuck in. We knew we had to limit their opportunities. And then when we got the ball, we had to break out fast because we had to get our own opportunities — and we had to put them away."

Pinkerton beat the tourney's top three seeds: No. 2 Alvirne in the quarterfinals, No. 3 Hanover in the semis and No. 1 Manchester Central. 

Pinkerton also beat Manchester Central in the Division 1 title game in 2010. That one was much easier, a 3-0 victory. At the time, it had marked the Astros second division title in three years.

But Pinkerton hadn't made the final four since 2011 when it lost to rival Londonderry in the semifinals. Pinkerton lost in the quarterfinals last year and suffered a 1-0 upset as the sixth-seed to No. 11 seed Merrimack in the first round in 2012. 

Hicks scored the game's first goal with 25:21 remaining in the first half. He and his teammates sprinted almost all the way down to the opposite side of the field in jubilation.

Hicks headed it past keeper Alec Patterson inside the near left post off a corner kick from Alex Ebner. 

It marked Hicks fifth goal in four playoff games. A tremendous leader and second-year senior captain, he also scored the contest's first goal in Pinkerton's 2-1 shootout semifinal victory over Hanover on Wednesday. 

"Kyle is an amazing captain, always pumping us up," Coutts said. "He's always doing what he needs to do. He's just an amazing captain. Nobody could ask for a better teammate." 

Hicks has been an excellent leader this year for a Pinkerton team with just five seniors and only four who played. Senior keeper goalkeeper Eric Werner suffered an ACL injury during the summer, forcing junior Hayden Pavao, who was suppose to be the junior varsity goalkeeper, to step in as the starting keeper. 

"It's amazing to see how these guys have grown over the season from individuals to a great team," Werner said. "It's amazing to see and I'm glad to be a part of it." 

Pavao did a fine job in Werner's spot throughout the year and played every minute of all 20 games. He he faced a difficult situation just 2 minutes after Hick's goal when Manchester Central was awarded a penalty kick with 23:20 remaining in the first half. 

Amar Dzelilovic took the PK and blasted it past Pavao to tie the tilt 1-1. 

But Pavao made a game-saving save with 13:28 left in regulation to preserve the tie 1-1. He finished with three saves in the title game. 

"He stepped up big for this team and was a crucial part to winning this championship," Werner said about Pavao.