Images of the game and team can be found in our multimedia gallery.
Hellenic United Athletic Club (HUAC) "Over-30" are champions of the 2009 National Soccer League (N.S.L.) outdoor season. They took the trophy with a 4-2 victory in penalties (regular game ended in a 1-1 tie) over Lake Shore Soccer Club in the league finals on Sunday, October 25, 2009.
HUAC drew blood first in the 18th minute of the game as Petros Ninis picked up a loose ball in the Lake Shore penalty box and slotted it in the back of the net to make the score 1-0.
Lake Shore equalized 15 minutes later after a spot kick sent the ball sailing towards Andreas Papakostas' upper 90 to make the score 1-1.
Regular game and overtime ended at 1-1 and it was Papakostas that stopped two penalty kicks to give HUAC their first NSL championship.
The win capped off a tremendous season for the team, coaches, and board of directors. HUAC ended up with a 14-5 record.
Yiannis Kosmas summed up the team's excitement and gratitude: "This dream was made possible thanks to all the players who dedicated their time and effort, our coaches, the board of directors for their great support, and of course all those that believed in our team."
"I hope this is only the beginning of many more championships to come," he added.
"This all feels great," HUAC coach Spiro Arsenis said. "This is a big relief. Winning an N.S.L. title gives these players something concrete they can point to and say, 'We were the best that season.' "
"Winning a championship is all I wanted," said HUAC defender Giuseppe Rivetti. "Last year I was disappointed, but not this year. We knew we had to earn it and now we are the Champions!"
"That was phenomenal," said HUAC midfielder Nick Penesis. "What a great way to end an amazing battle. You can't explain it. It's just unbelievable."
The trophy now joins that of the Hellenic United A.C. "Blue" team, who this past July won Illinois State Soccer Association (ISSA) "Frank Mariani" State Cup in its inaugural year!
