LAKE HUNTINGTON—“Break on through to the other side,” those memorable lyrics from a Doors’ anthem could have been blasted prior to the Homecoming clash between the winless boys soccer squads from Sullivan West and Tri-Valley.

Each team was trying desperately to break through to add a long-overdue victory to their season ledger. For the Westie seniors including Henry Marin, Dominic Perez, Dylan Sager, Tariq Gambari, Antony Wait, Mack Zadubara and Danny Shami, the dramatic 3-2 win over Tri-Valley in front of a loud, enthusiastic and supportive crowd, was grounds for the joyous leaps upon one another.

It was a fierce battle to say the least; one of the more physical games in recent years. And, to further add drama to it, Sullivan West’s early two-goal lead marshaled as a result of a pair of goals by sophomore Aoleces Jiminez, were equaled by a furious comeback by the Bears with two goals from Zachary Kitaychik. Aoleces’s second goal came off a rebound from T-V keeper Ben Smith, and a feed from Gambari.

Each goal scored during the night was cause for great celebration, as this season had not yet brought the satisfaction of a victory. Consequently, scoring has been at a premium and the balls heading into the net unleashed smiles, high fives and leaps atop of the hero of the moment.

Tri-Valley seemed to have gone ahead early in the second period on a gorgeous direct kick by Kitaychik hoping to get the hat trick, but the official ruled T-V’s Armaan Butler offsides, even though he was not involved in the play. The ruling stood and play went on. Officials handed out a bevy of yellow cards to reign in the increasingly physical play. Finally, with 14:32 left in the game, Dominic Perez launched a direct kick over the head of Smith for the 3-2 lead that stood up affording the Bulldogs the victory. At long last, they “broke on through to the other side.”

Sullivan West junior keeper Will Nearing recorded six saves. The team had ten shots and six corner kicks. T-V keeper Ben Smith recorded four saves. The Bears got off nine shots and had five corner kicks. Both Tri-Valley coach Josh Lubrano and Sullivan West coach Kristina Verrico referred the game as an extremely hard-fought battle. This game had previously been postponed and the teams will meet for a rematch soon in Tri-Valley.