The Hawks lose 3-1 to conference rivals Judson in heartbreaking CCAC playoff final

The Hawks ten game unbeaten streak finally came to an end on Saturday night as the team lost both their first home goals and first home game of the season to Judson College in the final of this years CCAC playoff tournament.

The match was played in front of a fantastic home crowd who braved the freezing cold conditions to support the team in their attempt to win their first ever Playoff crown; to add to the Conference Championship that they had already won earlier this year.

The game started off in an even manner but with the Hawks creating the better of the games early chances. The teams left midfielder Graeme Port saw an effort cleared of the line in the 5th minute before the same player put the ball into the back of the net shortly after only to see the goal chopped off for an offside call.

After a host of squandered early chances however it was to be Judson who struck first in the game when in the 9th minute Adauto Oliveira picked the ball up at the edge of the box before unleashing an unstoppable drive past Mike Tilatti in the Hawks goal.

The goal was the first that the Hawks had conceded at home this year and left the team in the unfamiliar position of having to claw their way back into a home game.

The task became slightly easier however just before the half time break when a shove by Judson's Milos Bajic, on Hawks midfielder Andrew Lichaj, left the referee with little choice other than to dismiss the player from the field of play.

The Hawks numerical advantage was evident throughout the second period of play as Judson were forced to sit back and defend a constant wave of home attacks.

A string of missed chances would eventually prove to be the Hawks downfall however as the team fell further behind in the 74th minute when a fantastic counter attack ended in Judson's Gustavo Oliveira finishing of an incisive break to put the Eagles into a commanding two goal lead.

The Hawks would pull a goal back in the 80th minute when Andrew Lichaj produced a delightful finish to make the score 2-1 but with the Hawks again pushing for an equalizing goal they were left short in defense.

This situation proved costly in the 85th minute when Leonardo Silva raced away after a Hawks corner to add a third and final goal to make the score 3-1 in Judson's favor.

The full time whistle blew shortly after the goal to confirm Judson's fifth straight Playoff Championship and the Hawks first home loss of the season.

The defeat ends the Hawks historical season on a sour note but the team can still look back with pride on a season which saw the school win their first ever Men's Soccer CCAC League Championship.

The team's players and coaching staff will also be confident in the knowledge that they will enter next season's campaign stronger than they were this year as they have no graduating players and three players returning to the team from red shirt years.

The players and coaching staff would also like to express their gratitude to all the fans that turned up to support the team this year and hopefully with a similar support next year the team can go on to achieve what they were so close to achieving this year; conference and playoff honors as well as a berth at the NAIA national tournament.