Peru's Matthew Trombley (gk) makes a diving stop on a direct kick from the Hornets. PLATTSBURGH — When the game was on the line, Alex Watts delivered once again. Watts scored his second goal in the 88th minute of overtime to lift the No. 11 state-ranked Peru Nighthawks to a 2-1 win over the Plattsburgh Hornets in NYSPHSAA Section VII boys soccer action. Peru entered the contest with an 11-2-2 record and controlled early momentum, breaking through in the 18th minute when Watts put the ball in the back of the net to give the Nighthawks a 1-0 lead. The Hornets, playing their regular-season finale, refused to go away quietly. After weathering Peru's pressure throughout much of the evening, Plattsburgh found its breakthrough in the 58th minute. Colin Walker delivered the equalizer, sending new energy through the Hornets and knotting the score at 1-1. From there, both teams traded chances in a physical, playoff-style battle. Peru goalkeeper Matthew Trombley made key saves throughout the contest, finishing with five to keep the Nighthawks within striking distance. With regulation unable to separate the two teams, the match moved into overtime. Peru's leading scorer didn't take long to make the difference. Watts struck again in the 88th minute, burying the game-winner and securing the Nighthawks' 12th victory of the season. The win pushes Peru to 12-2-2 as the Nighthawks prepare for their regular-season finale on October 22 against Brushton-Moira. For Plattsburgh, the loss closes the regular season at 5-9-1. Still, the Hornets showed plenty of fight against one of the state's top-ranked programs, forcing overtime before Watts ultimately provided the deciding moment.Gallery

Plattsburgh's Colin Walker (15) with the header to keep the attack alive and later scored the tying goal. Gallery

Peru's Zach Benson (20) splits a pair of Hornets and puts the shot on the net for the Nighthawks' third goal. It would be the second game of the championship Wednesday for section vii at Northeastern Clinton as the #1 Peru Nighthawks would take on the #2 Plattsburgh Hornets in a rematch of last year's title game that saw the Hornets get the win in the 12th round of the shootout almost a year ago to the date. The Nighthawks would come, and they were not looking for a repeat of last year as they scored in the first minute of the game on the Nolan Miner goal to make it a quick 1-0 lead. The Nighthawks would keep their foot on the gas and extend their lead to 2-0 on the Nick Petro goal. Then, in the final minute of the half, the Nighthawks would add another one, this time from Zach Benson, to make it a 3-0 game as the teams headed to the locker room. When the teams return for the second half, the Hornets come out trying to get on the board, but the Nighthawks' defense would be too much for them on this day, and the Nighthawks would get the 3-0 win. In the winning effort, the Nighthawks would stay perfect on the season at 14-0-1 and will enter the New York State Tournament and take on #9 Schalmont in the opening round. As for the Plattsburgh Hornets' chance at a repeat, it comes up short, and their season ends at 11-3-3. Gallery

Plattsburgh's Chase Laravia (21) with the defensive header over Peru's Nick Petro (12) as he sends it out of the box.Gallery

Northeastern Clinton's Maxx Rabideau (00) with the save as the Nighthawks crashed down the net for the goal attempt. It would be the regular season final for both the Northeaster Clinton Cougars and the #7 Peru Nighthawks, and they would meet up at the Apple Bowl at Peru High School. The Nighthawks would look to avenge their only time of the season. The Nighthawks would control the game through the first half, but no one could find the niet, and it would be tied at zero. The game would stay there until the Cougars took the 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute on the Evias Carpenter goal. They would stay there till the 69th minute when the Nighthawks would break through and tie the game in the 69th minute on the Collin Powers goal. Then, three minutes later, in the 72nd minute, the Nighthawks would take the lead on the Nolan Miner goal at 2-1. Then, to finish off the 9-minute bridge, the Nighthawks would make it a 3-1 game in the 78th minute on the Nick Petro goal. The Nighthawks would get the win, finish off the undefeated regular season at 13-0-1, and go into the playoffs as the number 1 seed in the Section VII A bracket. As for the Northeastern Clinton Cougars, they will finish the regular season at 9-2-4 as they enter the Section VII B playoffs. Gallery

Northeastern Clinton's Evais Carpenter (2) and Peru's Spencer Davies (3) battle for the ball along the end lines as the Cougars looked to attack.Gallery

Saranac Lake's (10) and Peru's battle for the ball along the sidelines that the Nighthawks end up sending to the eighteen yard box. We would have Champlain Valley Athletic Conference Boy's Soccer action as the #9 Peru Nighthawks would host the Saranac Lake Red Storm as they were looking to keep their undefeated season going. The Nighthawks would waste little time getting the lead as they would take the 1-0 lead just ten minutes into the game on the Declan Baker goal. Then, as time would expire on the opening half, the Nighthawks would extend their lead to 2-0 on the Zach Benson buzzer beater. The Nighthawks would come out of the locker room hot and extend their lead to 3-0 in the 43rd minute on the Collin Powers goal, and he would add two more in ten minutes to have a hat trick and give the Nighthawks a commanding 5-0 lead. Then, to end the game in the 65th minute, Alex Watts would score to give the Nighthawks the 6-0 lead and then hold on from there for the shutout victory and go to 11-0-1 on the season as they head into their next match on October 18th against the Beekmantown Eagles. As for the Saranac Lake Red Storm, they fall to 6-7 in the season, and they will look to get back to 500 in the year as they take on Boquet Valley on October 15th. Gallery

Saranac Lake's (20) and Peru's Alex Watts (19) go shoulder to shoulder down the sidelines after the ball as the Nighthawks are on the attack. Gallery

Peru's Jordan Osborne (10) and Plattsburgh's (26) battle for the ball in the corner as the Hornets try to get on the board. We would battle in class A inside the Champlain Valley Athletic Conference as the Plattsburgh Hornets would host the #4 Peru Nighthawks in Boy's Soccer action. The Nighthawks would open up the scoring in the 17th minute on the goal from Zach Benson as Nighthawks would take the 1-0 lead. It wouldn't take long for the Nighthawks to extend their lead to 2-0 as Jordan Osborne would score in the 21st minute, and that's where the scoring would end for the first half. When the teams returned for the second half, the Hornets would come out buzzing, but they could not break through for a goal. The Nighthawks would take control of the game in the 60th minute on the Nolan Miner as the Nighthawks would secure the 3-0 victory. In the winning effort, the Nighthawks would stay undefeated as they go to 9-0-1 on the season and will be back in action on October 10th as they host the Saranac Spartans from the Apple Bowl. As for the Plattsburgh Hornets will fall to 6-2-1 with both their losses coming at the hands of the Nighthawks and will be back in action on Monday evening as they will host the Schroo Lake Wildcats. Gallery

Peru's Ashtyn Catlin (15) rises above the rest for the header in the midfield area to help the Nighthawks on the attack. Gallery