The temperature on a crisp autumn night Oct. 17 was just not enough to prevent the appearance of entrails from exhaling. The 80 from the Hawken boys side amid a Division III sectional final against visiting Louisville sadly met a similar fate — it was just not enough to prevent exiting. Dominic Porter-Kovacich and Carter Burton struck 22 seconds apart in the 19th minute for the Leopards, and the Hawks never fully recovered from that proverbial uppercut after netting the opener in a 3-1 loss. Hawken concludes its 2024 campaign 9-4-4. On an evening during which the typically potent Hawks could only muster five shots on target, the harsh reality was they were not as clinical as was required, either on service or in end product, to befit the occasion. Hawken coach Vlad Muresan could sense it. “Yeah, the emotions are high right now,” Muresan said. “I felt we started not the best way, but we grew into the game. We scored that goal. But after that, to be honest with you, I thought they were the better team. They deserved to go through. Second half, if one of those goals go in, it’s a different game. But, you know, it feels like we lost to a better team, just in terms of energy, everything. They seemed like they wanted it more. And the score suggests that, too.” The Hawks did take a 1-0 lead. In the 14th minute off a corner, two Louisville defenders rose up to head the far-post entry. The combination of it led to a backspin own goal. Hawken 1-0 14th min pic.twitter.com/80UnniTDHv — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 17, 2024 The Leopards (8-7-2) — in yet another instance in D-III of clearly being a side that was seeded too low — stormed back and handled business, as Muresan noted in his refreshing candor. First it was Burton springing Porter-Kovacich for the equalizer in the 19th. Then, 22 seconds later, Burton did well with a lefty finish to make it a 2-1 match. With a physical midfield and smart displays of width, the Leopards continued their push until they grabbed a third. That came in the 35th, when Nick Johnston latched onto Will Pochubay’s cross at the far post and slotted for the final margin. The Hawks had a couple decent looks at a lifeline in the second 40 down, 3-1, through Joey Skoczen. The standout sophomore was turned away in the 49th and had another strike in the box off a chipped free kick in the 68th denied. Hawken senior goalkeeper Parker Stusek had two outstanding saves amid a seven-save evening, one on an outswinger by Kaden Swope in the 22nd and another on Porter-Kovacich in the 76th to preserve the 3-1 scoreline while the Hawks tried to find a way back into the match, but to no avail. The good news after this chilly night and this chilly exit is Hawken will return a strong attacking nucleus featuring Skoczen, Stefan Zivic, Giordano Gullotta and Brandon Shaw, the latter a pacey sophomore striker who had to sit out the remainder of the campaign due to OHSAA transfer rules after netting nine goals in the first half for the Hawks. Understandably, though, Muresan lamented this fate more for his seniors, especially with an 80 that just was not enough to prevent the seed upset that transpired. “Good sophomore class, and they’ll be juniors next year,” Muresan said. “A good junior class that will be seniors next year. But it’s tough to look forward to next year right now, especially when these seniors are crying. That’s futbol. That’s part of the game. There’s only one team that wins it, and everybody else will cry at the end of the season.”