Delaney: Hamilton boys add to Section III soccer success

The success of the Hamilton Central boys soccer team this season is another feather in the cap of area soccer teams. The Emerald Knights are the fourth Utica-area Section III team to advance to the state semifinals since 2004. The others are the New Hartford boys, the Cooperstown girls and the Poland boys (twice, 2005 and 2007).

"If Poland is in any other section, we're playing them this weekend," said Hamilton Central coach Brian Latella of his CSC III and Class D rivals.

Latella, making his first appearance state semifinal appearance in six years as a coach, said the number of soccer teams in the 103-school section makes it a challenge to get through the Section III Tournament. Once a team does, the foundation is solid to do well at the state level - particularly for Section III small schools.