Keagan Adams-Smith jumped into the air, clenched his fist and swung his arm in triumph.
The sophomore striker then ran and met his teammates, all of whom were in celebration and cheers as No. 10 Bishop Brady upset No. 2 Hopkinton in the Division III quarterfinals, 3-2, in overtime on Friday.
Adams-Smith was the main character in the Giants’ victory over the Hawks. Of course, the game-winner holds weight, but getting to that position is where his heroics lie.
Only inches away from the goalie box with just two minutes left in regulation, Brady was down, 2-1, and was in need of a difference-maker. It got one, but not through its own doing. It came when the Hawks were called for a hand ball ,and it awarded the Giants a free kick from about the same range as a penalty kick.
Adams- Smith toed the ball and played it perfectly, sending the kick high and center, a spot Hopkinton goalie Aiden Burns was unable to reach.
Nearly 10 minutes later, Adams-Smith’s third goal was his last of the match, and it sent Brady onto the semifinals as a double-digit seed – the first to make a semifinal appearance in over five years. While his individual efforts showed on the scoreboard, was put into those positions of opportunity with the help of teammates and the persistent belief they could pull off the victory.
“Every single player on that field understood their task,” coach Jordan Misiri said. “We wanted to limit their (Hopkinton’s) touches. I talk to my guys all the time and tell them in games like this they have to want it more.”
Misiri’s message to his team going into the overtime period was simple: The job is not finished.
For the Hawks, while the loss might sting, it was anything but disappointing, according to coach Scott Zipke. He was pleased with the effort he saw from his program against what he called the best team they faced all year long.
“The two times we played Brady this year, they were potentially the best team we played all year,” he said. “They’re big, they’re strong, they’re skilled and I wish them luck.”
In their first match, the Hawks gave the Giants space on the field, but in Friday’s match there weren’t open patches of grass. It showed as the Hawks’ defensive unit gave itself opportunistic moments that resulted in goals from Josh Duval and Garrett Fitzgerald early in the second half.
Ultimately, the defense cost them with the aforementioned hand ball, and now they remain home until next season rolls around.
In the Giants’ case, the job remains unfinished. They will rest and prepare for Monday’s semifinal match against No. 3 Campbell.
Brady lost both of its regular-season matches to Campbell, but clearly the playoffs are a different and new season. Monday’s match will be played at Bank of New Hampshire Stadium on the grounds at Laconia High School and is slated to start at 4 p.m.