BY ADAM RONIS
When the 2007 Suffolk Class AA boys soccer champion is crowned, Smithtown West won't have its name listed as the winner. Although Smithtown West lost to Half Hollow Hills West in the semifinals, 1-0, this afternoon, the Bulls should be proud.
The team went through a very difficult week. Smithtown West seniors, 17-year-olds Michael Western and Daniel DiStefano, who were close with many players on the team, were killed in a car accident on Wednesday in Smithtown. The team then went out on Friday and upset No. 1 Brentwood, the top-ranked team in the state and winners of the last two championships, 1-0, in the quarterfinals.
The practices since the tragedy have been light. Some players were missing due to the wakes. Before today's game, the team went to two funerals. They had no time to eat before the game and snacked on apples and oranges.
Smithtown West coach Tom Lips offered no excuses.
"It wasn't the reason why we didn't win," he said.
The game was a defensive battle and no one dominated. Half Hollow Hills West capitalized on an error.
"Scoring a goal first would have uplifted us," Lips said. "We played them dead even."