The Farmingdale Wolves boys U-12 travel soccer team advanced to the fourth round in the State Cup Championships with a "Golden Goal" victory over the division-leading Hauppauge Stingrays. The goal came in the 14th minute of overtime after the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

The Wolves, who remain undefeated during their regular season, also played to a 2 - 2 tie this weekend against another undefeated team in their division, the Great Neck Thunder. Kudos to Brandon Veracka and Tommy Esposito, who scored off expert passes by Chris Pendergast and Eddie O'Hara.

But while the Great Neck game was certainly exciting, it paled in comparison to the nail-biter victory over Hauppauge in a driving rain the following day. Once again, led by the outstanding goalkeeping of Matt Ward, the Wolves' strong backfield - Peter Badalamente, Nicholas Casey, Jonathan Delmore, Bobby Godas , Eric Martello, Eddie O'Hara, Peter Thompson and Jackson Weber - never gave an inch under pressure from Hauppauge's tough offense. Hauppauge did manage to penetrate once in the first half, but the Wolves stayed tough - and played even tougher.

With the score at 0 - 1 in favor of the opposition going into the second half, the Wolves' offensive line - including Xavier Bonilla, Andrew Erker, Joe Kennedy, Jonathan Lyons, Chris Pendergast and Zack Wetzel - really poured it on, despite the absence of Cody Chuchul, who was recuperating under doctor's orders. They eventually persevered, tying the game off a corner kick by Esposito, which forced the game into not one - but two - overtime periods.

Then, with just minutes left in the second overtime period, Esposito scored again, sending a left-footed kick sailing over the outstretched arms of the Hauppauge goalkeeper. The field erupted into a "mushroom" of blue and gold as the Wolves rushed the field in celebration.

Following the win, Wolves coach Chris Pendergast and assistant coaches Kevin Lyons and John Veracka congratulated all the boys for their outstanding teamwork and presented the coveted "game ball" to four players: to Esposito, for his victory-clinching shot, to Badalemente for his outstanding defensive play and to Pendergast and Wetzel for pouring it on offensively. Each game ball is used by its winner at practices throughout following week - and serves as a reminder to each player that he is key in making the Farmingdale Wolves the "team to beat" this season.