ONEONTA - It took until the final game of the season, but the Northville boys soccer team finally ran out of rallies.
After coming from behind in each of their first five postseason games, the Falcons' magical run ended in heartbreaking fashion Sunday in the New York State Class D championship game at the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Chazy scored the game's only goal on a penalty kick with just 2:16 remaining in the game to win its fourth state title in the last six years.
"We kept telling the team that something odd could decide the game," Chazy coach Rob McAuliffe said. "We're just happy to get it in the net any way it came, especially against a great team like Northville. Their kids played hard."
Freshman Brandon Laurin converted the penalty kick for Chazy after the Falcons were called for a hand ball in the box.
The 1-0 victory provided a measure of redemption for the Eagles, who lost 4-3 to Hamilton in overtime in last year's title game.
Northville was left wondering what might have been after coming so close to its first state title since sharing the crown with Hamilton in 1995.
"We've gone through a lot of adversity on and off the field this season," Northville senior goalkeeper Mike VanNostrand said. "It's too bad we couldn't pull out the win."
To get to the finals, both teams had to survive hard-fought semifinal contests Saturday.
The Falcons played 110 minutes and advanced on penalty kicks over Section V champion Belfast, playing the final 50 minutes two players down after red cards.
Chazy emerged with a 2-1 win over Section III champion Hamilton in a rematch of last year's title game.
On Sunday, both teams were still feeling the effects of Saturday's semifinal games.
"I think both teams could have played better if they weren't playing for a second straight day," McAuliffe said. "That's how it goes when you play two games in two days."
Both teams also were missing key players from their lineups. Chazy played without Nathan Reynolds, who suffered an injury in the semifinals, while Northville was without seniors Brandon Bleyl and Zach Bedell after both were ejected from Saturday's game.
Their absence meant lineup changes for the Falcons, who were forced to move senior striker Josh Ostrander to Bedell's sweeper spot and sophomore Jordan Ryder to Bleyl's midfield position.
"We had to play with a new lineup," Clapper said. "That was unfortunate, but we tried to make the most of it."
Chazy controlled play during the first half, outshooting the Falcons by a 6-3 margin.
The Eagles' next chance came with 17 minutes remaining when Tyler Bulriss saw his shot knocked over the crossbar by VanNostrand, who finished with eight saves and was named Northville's Most Valuable Player.
"Michael [VanNostrand] played a wonderful game," Clapper said.
Northville's Jimmy Cole had a pair of near misses in the opening 40 minutes. His first chance came off a flip throw from Ostrander, but Chazy keeper Austin Santor made the save, Cole also sent a shot just over the crossbar with 19:20 remaining in the half.
"We had our chances," Northville coach Steve Clapper said. "We just didn't put one in the net."
In the second half, the Falcons and the Eagles again battled back and forth.
"It was pretty much a 50-50 game the whole time," Ostrander said.
The Falcons nearly broke the scoreless tie with 24:20 left to play when Jon Briggs ripped a hard shot on goal only to have Santor tip the ball wide of the net. Santor finished with three saves for the Eagles.
Defenders for both sides also helped keep the game scoreless in the second half as Northville's Dylan Allen cleared a shot by Chazy's Kyle McCarthy from the goalline.
The Eagles' Shea Howley did the same on a shot by Northville's Mackenzie Groff with six minutes to play.
With 2:16 to play, VanNostrand attempted to punch a ball away from the goal, but it bounced off the hand of a teammate and the official awarded the Eagles a penalty kick.
VanNostrand, who stopped a penalty kick in regulation and two in the decisive penalty-kick round in Saturday's semifinal game against Belfast, looked to save the day again for Northville.
The senior keeper dove to his left with Laurin's shot and got a hand on it, but was unable to keep it out of the net.
"I just couldn't keep it out of the net," VanNostrand said. "It was a good shot."
Trailing 1-0 was nothing new for the Falcons, who trailed in all six of their postseason games, but this one-goal deficit came too late in the game to overcome.
"I'm very proud of the guys. They had a great season," Clapper said. "They showed the heart and character they had."
Chazy finishes its season with a 20-0-2 record after adding the 2009 state title to its 2004, 2005 and 2007 titles.
"It feels good. It never gets old," McAuliffe said.
The Eagles' Kaleb Snide was chosen as his team's MVP.
Northville, which won state titles in 1988 and 1995, ends its season with a record of 18-2-1.
"We have no reason to hang our heads," Clapper said. "The team was very successful this year and I'm proud of what we accomplished."
It was the final game for 12 Northville seniors. That group includes Ostrander, Cole, VanNostrand, Groff, Bleyl, Bedell, Nick Visco, Jason Barnes, Scott Parker, Dillan Carman, Dustin Mineconzo and Zach Jones.
"I'm proud of every guy out here, especially the seniors," Ostrander said. "Everything we did reflects what Northville is about. I was proud to be part of it."
