Hollis Brookline's Zak Lussier ponders the Cavs' tough 2-1 semifinal loss to Kingswood on Thursday night in Exeter. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

EXETER — The Hollis Brookline High School boys soccer faithful was waiting at the main gate of Bill Ball Stadium as the Cavaliers were walking off, the only ones left on Eustis Field.

And they were showered with well-deserved applause. But in the end, that was a consolation prize for the No. 5 Cavs, who fell 2-1 to top-seeded Kingswood in Thursday night’s Division II semis.

First year Cavs coach Pedro Zampilli said before the season he wanted his team to make a deep tourney run, and they did. But they wanted one round deeper, and instead it will be the Knights (15-2-1), unbeaten in their last 15 games, facing No. 2 Oyster River in Sunday’s 4:30 p.m. final here. The Bobcats beat No. 3 Con-Val 3-0 in the earlier semi.

“We did it, but we still have that bitter taste,” Zampilli said. “We had a team we felt could compete in the final. But that’s part of soccer.”

The game was tied at 1 when Kingswood ‘s Dominic Alberto got the ball in space about 30 yards out on the left wing in the 52nd minute and fired a shot into the upper right corner that was just out of the reach of Cavs keeper John Sommer for a 2-1 Knights lead. Sommer ironically had made the save of the season just moments earlier, robbing Kingswood’s Brayden Rapoza point blank when the net was wide open.

“It was unbelievable,” Zampilli said of the senior keeper. “I was a goalkeeper, so that was the kind of the save that for a team brings the energy up.”

The Cavs (13-5-1) had that energy burst, but it didn’t come until the last 10-15 minutes of the game, the most active forward being junior Parker Cheyne, but his best chance rolled just wide and a couple of others were saved by Russo in the final three minutes.

“We had a chance,” Zampilli said. “We knew we couldn’t start playing their game, super direct. Second half we came out slower, they wanted it a little bit more, we couldn’t handle their high press. And I think the nerves of the semifinals (took hold). But after their second goal, we were able to regroup. … We had a few chances, but unfortunately weren’t able to finish.”

It was a game of runs. The Cavaliers came out at the start flying, peppering Russo (eight saves) early, and took a 1-0 lead as senior Hunter Crea zipped through a crowd in the middle and fed junior Ben Dufoe on the wing and Dufoe didn’t miss at 28:48 of the first half.

But the Knights, who had already started to join the party, got a goal by freshman Nathan Cloos off a long free kick just five minutes later to tie things at 1.

It changed the game.

“Oh it definitely just shifted the momentum,” Kingswood coach Erik Nelson said. “But credit to Hollis Brookline for an excellent possession game in that first half. They came out strong, ready to play, we came out a little bit shaky. But the boys really elevated their game, we adjusted, and made some adjustments at halftime.”

Kingswood keeper Calbe Russo thwarts Hollis Brookline Jesse Gertz’s scoirng attempt late in Thursday night’s Division II semifinal in Exeter. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Nelson said that he wanted the Knights to press higher, and they obliged. And in the second half, Kingswood dominated for about 25 minutes.

“We’re definitely a second half team,” Nelson said. “That showed tonight.”

Especially when Alberto scored to give Kingswood the lead.

“That was a beautiful goal, one that was worthy of winning a semifinal,” Nelson said. “Credit to Dom for working hard. He probably had one earlier he should have buried, but he scored a beautiful goal to win it for us.”

Kingswood has a tough soccer history, and this will be the Knights’ first soccer final ever, boys or girls. According to Nelson, the Knights own the dubious record of most goals allowed in a Division II game, 20-0 to Hanover , back in 1987. And the seniors on this team now were part of an 0-16 varsity team as freshmen.

“History in the making for us,” Nelson said.

And the Cavs chance to add to their soccer history was denied, but as their fans showed, they gave it a great try.

“They bought in, and we were able to do something special,” Zampilli said. “And next year we’re going to come back stronger for sure.”