Fall sports tournament briefs

By RICHARD A. ROSS

Boys’ soccer state tournament

S.S. Seward 2, Greenport 0

S.S. Seward boys make state semifinals

MIDDLETOWN, NY — The Spartans capitalized on two goals by Shane Meduski to shut out Greenport and earn a berth back in the final four of the state tournament. Last year S.S. Seward lost 1-0 to Jasper-Troupsburg in the championship game. The win over Greenport sends Seward to Oneonta to try and rectify that disappointing end to the 2002 season. Seward will face Jasper-Troupsburg in the semifinals at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta on November 15. Seward knocked off Section One Haldane 6-2 in the quarterfinals.

Pine Bush 3, Arlington 2

Pine Bush unseats unbeaten nationally third-ranked Arlington

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — How the mighty have fallen.

Arlington came into the state tournament as the top-ranked team. Previously unbeaten and ranked third in the nation, Arlington was forced into a shootout after a regulation 2-2 tie. Shootouts are any soccer coach’s worst nightmare. It turned out to be the case for Arlington as Matthew Jasmin scored the final goal in the shootout giving Pine Bush the 5-4 win.  Pine Bush will face Section 3 Liverpool at the National Soccer Hall of Fame on November 14.

Girls’ soccer state tournament

S.S. Seward 1, Mercy 0

Seward girls reach semis

CENTER MORICHES, NY — For the first time since 1998, the Lady Spartans are heading to the state semifinals. Susan Tuthill’s goal on an assist from Theresa Space was all that.

Seward needed to propel them to Webster-Schroeder High School near Rochester to face Section 7 Chazy. The Spartans have a 13-game winning streak on the line as well as a ticket to the state finals.

Football

Chester 24, Millbrook 18

Chester holds on to defeat Milbrook

KINGSTON, NY — The odds of Chester winning the Section 9 Class D football title at the beginning of the season were little to none in the eyes of contending Livingston Manor, Millbrook and Eldred. After all, Chester didn’t even have a varsity program last year. The Hambletonians dispelled the last of such preseason speculative tomfoolery by disposing of Milbrook on November 9. After beating Livingston Manor to earn the berth in the title game, Chester capitalized on a fumble by Milbrook’s quarterback Jon Shanks with 52 seconds left in the game to hold on to the win.

Chester (7-3) will play Section 1 champion Tuckahoe in the semi-finals of the state Class D tournament on November 15.

Tri-Valley 24, Pine Plains 16

Tri-Valley wins Class C title

KINGSTON, NY — Since there are only two C schools in Section 9, the league title was decided by Pine Plains’ early season 22-14 win over Tri-Valley back in the second week. This time around, the Bears knew what they were up against. Stop running back Jason Millius and the result would be different from the first time. Millius had only three yards on five carries. Tri-Valley led 18-0 at halftime on a fumble recovery by Dan Knox, a 13-yard touchdown pass from Joe Garigliano to Jim Walsh and a pass to Adam Whiteman. Tri-Valley added to its lead with an early third quarter one-yard plunge by Garigliano. Pine Plains rallied with a touchdown and a recovered fumble to make the score 24-16 but fell short on the fumble. Tri-Valley will play Section I Dobbs Ferry in a quarterfinal game on November 15.

James I. O’Neill 20, New Paltz 16

O’Neill captures Class B title

KINGSTON, NY — With 3:07 left in the game, O’Neill took a risk. Backed up near their goal line and leading by six points, O’Neill coach Skip Feinberg had his quarterback take a safety, essentially trading two points for the right to a free kick from his own 20-yard line. While the kick gave New Paltz good field position with first and ten on the O’Neill 26-yard line with 1:40 left. The Raiders’ defense, the aspect of their team that has carried them throughout the season, held on in its finest hour. New Paltz failed to get a first down and the Raider went on to win.

O’Neill will play Section I Rye (10-0) on November 14 in the quarterfinals.