Bobcats Close Out Regular Season With Win at Home

Paul Smiths, NY ~ Four in a row.  That's how many games the Paul Smith's College men's soccer team have played straight without being beaten.  The month of October has been particularly good to the team so far as they've gone 3-0-1, with their most recent result being a 2-1 win against Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) on Wednesday night at home.

Senior backs Jacob Butler (New Gloucester, ME) and captain Kagan Hance (Chester, VT) had a storybook ending to their final regular season game as both scored goals in the comeback win.

"What a way to end our regular season," said Hance.  "I can't imagine a better outcome for Jake and my last home game.  I'm so proud of our success this season - now looking forward to playoffs," added Hance.

The Bobcats gave up a goal in the first minute of the game after a fast break on the counter from the Panthers saw Ian Rathbun break into the middle on a through-ball from Zackary Murphy.  The junior from Queensbury, NY saw a challenge coming and calmly slotted it past goalkeeper Cazimir Couble's left side.

"It's never good when you give up a goal 15 seconds into the game.  But here's the thing about this team, they never give up," said Bobcat head coach Chris George.

That indomitable spirit led to a rugged defense for the remainder of the first half.  And what  happened in the second half was something out of a movie.

In the 61st minute, the Bobcats earned a free kick near the midfield kickoff dot.  Liam Curthoys (Rhinebeck, NY) then stepped up and delivered a pinpoint service to the back post where team captain Kagan Hance was waiting.  Hance deposited the ball into the back of the net to tie the game as the crowd and the Bobcat sidelined roared.

"When Kagan scored to level it, that was game over for them," said coach George.

Then, like it was fate that intervened, fellow Paul Smith's College senior Jacob Butler delivered one of the most electric goals the Paul Smith's College soccer program has ever seen.

In the 80th minute with teams tied at 1-1, Maddox Johnson (Ellicotville, NY) sent a cross to the back corner of the Panther 18-yard-box.  The Panther defender misjudged the cross, which was then pounced on by Butler.  After a blocked initial shot, Butler gathered the ball and cut up from the touch line toward the top of 6-yard-box.  Butler weaved through the defense en route to splitting the goalkeeper's legs and scoring the game winning goal with just 10 minutes left.

"Going into the game I knew something special was going to happen," recalled Butler.  "I would never have guessed it would be myself and Kagan, our two seniors, scoring in our last regular season home game ever," he added.

The truly special and remarkable thing is Butler's recent penchant for scoring.  Until the October 4th game againt UMA, the senior back hadn't recorded a single goal in his four year collegiate soccer career.  The Maine native now has goals in three consecutive games, which were all played at home during the final games of his senior campaign.

Junior goalkeeper Cazimir Couble earned his seventh victory of the season, stopping four saves in the win.  The Bobcats are now 7-8-1 overall and 5-2-1 in the Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC).  They await the outcomes from the remaining YSCC conference games to see who they face at home in the first round of the playoffs.

You can follow the men's soccer team on Instagram at @paulsmithsmsoc or follow the general athletics account at @smitty_nation for scores, highlights, pictures, and much more!

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At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. As the only four-year institution of higher education located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Paul Smith's provides real-world, hands-on learning in fields such as business and hospitality, culinary management, forestry, environmental sciences, and natural resources. We can draw on industries and resources available in our backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. Our community of resourceful, enterprising, supportive, and adventurous individuals collectively provides experiential education, student support in the classroom and beyond, and meaningful opportunities for our alumni. We pride ourselves on research and advocacy on issues that improve our planet and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Learn more at www.paulsmiths.edu.