Alfaro Breaks Overtime Deadlock to Send John Glenn to County Title Game

The game hung in the balance for 90 minutes, leaving the Class A boys soccer semifinal between John Glenn and Kings Park undecided. As the teams prepared for extra time, Knights coach Lou Hanner told his squad that someone had to step up and change the result. Cristian Alfaro answered that call with 3:24 remaining in the first overtime period.

The senior forward received a pass from Jesse Columbo and fired a shot that struck the post before bouncing into the net. The single goal broke the 0-0 tie, ending the match and securing John Glenn’s place in the county championship. Alfaro described the moment as the biggest goal of his high school career, noting that he knew the ball was going in before it crossed the line.

Both goalkeepers were instrumental in keeping the score level during regulation. Kings Park’s Michael Congro made six saves, while John Glenn’s David Palencia recorded eight. Hanner acknowledged that Kings Park dominated the final third of the contest, stating that his opponents likely deserved to win based on their pressure in the late stages of regulation.

Kings Park coach Tom Nally praised his team’s resilience after a recent 6-0 defeat to John Glenn just 10 days earlier. Nally said his players gave their best effort, particularly in the second half and overtime, even though a single play decided the outcome. He expressed pride in the squad’s ability to bounce back from their earlier loss.

John Glenn will now face Amityville in the Suffolk Class A championship game at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Harborfields High School. Amityville earned their berth by defeating East Hampton 2-1 on Tuesday. As the No. 1 seed, the Knights are looking to capture their third consecutive county title.

A victory in Suffolk would also qualify John Glenn for the Long Island championship game, giving them the opportunity to win back-to-back regional titles. Hanner stated that his players are ready for the challenge ahead.

The Knights’ path to the final was marked by defensive stability and a decisive strike in extra time. The team will travel to Harborfields to meet the No. 2 seed in a contest that determines the county’s top team.