WILMINGTON-Just like their coach, the Twin Valley boys' varsity soccer team just keeps winning.
The Wildcats rolled over visiting Green Mountain, 10-1, on Sept. 9, to give Buddy Hayford's 500th win as a high school soccer coach.
The Wildcats put the game out of reach early. Alex Sullivan scored off of a Brayden Brown corner kick in the third minute. Carson McHale added a score four minutes later, taking a pass from Brown and beating GM keeper Colin Rose. Sullivan hammered home a Niko Gerding pass in the eighth minute, burying a shot from 25 yards out.
Twin Valley scored four more times in the first half for a 7-0 lead at intermission. Sullivan added two more goals, Tucker Magnant knocked in a header, and Brayden Brown tallied off a throw-in from brother Landon.
In the second half, Gerding, Sullivan, and McHale had shots find their mark. Logan Williams had a late goal for Green Mountain, hitting a nice shot that Twin Valley goalkeeper Davis Cole couldn't get to. In all, Twin Valley had 31 shots on goal to Green Mountain's seven.
Once the game was won and Hayford's 500th victory was secure, the celebration of Hayford's accomplishment began.
A large crowd had turned out in anticipation of the moment. They cheered loudly when assistant coach Chris Brown introduced Hayford and listed his accomplishments. Those included the 500 wins for Wilmington and Twin Valley high schools, 163 losses, 22 ties, 10 state championships, seven runners-up, and hundreds of players coached.
"It's only fitting that tonight you meet this illustrious milestone with family, friends, and your community on your field under the lights, where you have spent countless hours, training and matches, doing what you love, coaching soccer and winning," said Brown "Thank you, Buddy, for all your time, energy, and enthusiasm over the years. In a world where the grass is always greener and many will jump ship at the drop of a hat, you are the parameter for what true loyalty looks like. Your commitment is unmatched. Congratulations on your honor."
Hayford then took the mike to loud cheers from the crowd.
"I generally tend to look forward, not backward, but I suppose tonight I have to reflect and look back on 43 years of coaching," said Hayford. "I want to thank all of my former players, many of whom made it tonight. Whether you wore blue and white or red and black, I want to thank you because you guys did all the heavy lifting. Whether you were an all-state player or someone on the bench, it didn't matter. You mattered, and I love you all.
"I also want to thank the team behind the team. I want to thank the school community. I want to thank all the fans for coming out tonight and throughout the years for supporting our boys and our girls. I want to thank my assistant coaches. I've had some of the best people working with me.
"I want to thank the bus drivers, the school administrators, all the youth coaches because we have a terrific feeder program. I wouldn't have been on the sidelines for 500 wins if I didn't have the talent. It was developed by many people at the youth level, so I'm very indebted to all the youth coaches. The officials as well, there's no games without them.
"And I want to thank finally my family, especially my wife, for allowing me and supporting me over the course of 43 years in coaching soccer. So again, thank you so much to everybody that's here. This means so much to me. I'm very grateful and indebted to many, many people."
Following Hayford's acknowledgment, a parade of police cars and firetrucks made their way around the field. One firetruck had a large sign across its side that read "500 Wins: Buddy Hayford." As the sirens faded away, a number of former players and fans made their way to the field to congratulate and hug Hayford.
While the festivities wound down, Hayford, as he does after every game, win or lose, gathered his players around him. His message was simple: "Rest up, we're on the road to Randolph Thursday afternoon."
That match in Randolph on Sept. 11 was a little tougher as the Wildcats needed overtime to subdue the Galloping Ghosts, 3-2. Landon Brown and Brayden Brown scored in regulation time, with both goals set up by Sullivan. Gerding then scored the game-winning goal three minutes into OT off a 30-yard strike. Lackey made five saves in goal, as the Wildcats outshot Randolph, 18-7.
At press time, Twin Valley was set to face Long Trail School on Sept. 16 in the opening round of the John Werner Soccer Tournament in Arlington. The Wildcats are the three-time defending champs and have won the tournament 10 times in 16 seasons. Host Arlington and Mt. St. Joseph will square off on the other side of the bracket.
A version of this story appeared in The Deerfield Valley News, The Commons' sister newspaper.
This Sports item by Randy Capitani originally appeared in The Deerfield Valley News and was republished in The Commons with permission.