David Belfort was working overtime Tuesday. 

The Hamilton Huskies soccer coach was directing traffic throughout his team’s big non-region game against nine-time state champ Chaparral. Belfort’s Huskies were up to their ears protecting their net while listening to their coach work the sidelines. 

Going up against Chaparral coach Robyn Carlson and her arsenal is no picnic. But Hamilton withstood the pressure during their 1-0 important non-conference road victory. 

Both squads were ranked in the top-32 in this season’s first Open Division power rankings.    

"I care. I care. I care,” said Belfort about his sideline efforts. "I think it starts at the top. If the coach cares, then it trickles down to the players. With Robyn Carlson, a multiple time state championship coach, we are happy that we were able to get on the right side of it tonight.”

A late first half goal off a corner kick held up for 6A Hamilton (6-1-1). 

One of the team’s young talents, sophomore Mikaela Curry, scored the goal after the corner kick by the team’s leading goal scorer, Lauren Dunn, went off a different player first. But Hamilton's defensive performance is what really gave its young team a confidence boost heading into region play.

Its defense doesn’t dress a senior but is well-organized. The back line mates of goalkeeper Haley Vincelette, center back/captain Sawyer Pellant, Addison Davis, Brynn Sauer, Curry, and Chloe Molten, thwarted some of the dangerous attacks. 

“It wasn’t pretty at times, but we were able to get the job done,” Belfort said.

Chaparral’s defense, which wasn’t really threatened in the second half, also was outstanding.

5A Chaparral (8-1-3) was playing just its third match since Dec. 31. There was some rust at the start of the first half, but it didn’t take long for their fast wingers to get going. 

"We did possess the ball,” Carlson said. “We just need to continue to grow and learn from this and move forward.”