The Hopkinton High boys soccer season ended on Thursday in a 5-1 loss at Campbell in the opening round of the Division III playoffs.
Campbell jumped out early and kept the pressure throughout the game with a decisive advantage in shots on goal.
The No. 15 seed Hawks had their chances early on to stay with their second-seeded hosts. Hopkinton senior Lincoln Wilson scored his team’s lone goal, a perfectly placed knuckleball from midfield that managed to pass by the goalkeepers’ hands. The score, off an assist from senior Kevin Ball, cut the Campbell lead to 2-1.
Liam Boyle almost tied the game at 2 on a close chance, but Hopkinton was unable to convert.
At the beginning of the second half, with Hopkinton trailing 3-1 and on the attack, a controversial call against Hopkinton ended the momentum.
A Hopkinton attacker was whistled for charging the referee in a call that many in attendance felt should have gone against the goalkeeper for jumping over the Hopkinton player.
Campbell scored two more goals to put the game out of reach.
Hopkinton goalkeeper Colby Boissy made 16 saves, and senior goalie Ben Taylor came in toward the end of the game in his final appearance in net for the Hawks.
Campbell improved to 15-2-0, while Hopkinton’s season ended with a record of 5-10-2.
“The guys came out, played hard, stepped to the ball,” said Hopkinton coach Scott Zipke. “That was good. That’s what we were trying to do.”