Keeper’s corner: weekly update

Sullivan West and Marlboro duke it out for remaining sectional spot

By RICHARD A. ROSS

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY – There’s something about playing the Iron Dukes from Marlboro that brings out the toughness in Sullivan West’s girls’ soccer team. The last time the two teams battled on September 22, the Iron Dukes scored with only seven minutes left on a defensive mistake. Marlboro won that game 1-0.

This time around the Bulldogs were playing to keep their hopes alive for a berth in the upcoming sectionals. They needed a win against Marlboro on October 20 and another against Liberty on October 22. They got the latter, but by the time they notched that inspiring win against the Indians, they had already lost control of their own destiny by virtue of a crushing 2-1 loss to the Dukes.

Marlboro was in a similar position, needing two more wins to make sectionals. According to Sullivan West Coach Mike Mahoney, the sectionals will probably feature the top four teams. Those teams assured of a berth are top-seeded Highland, John S. Burke Catholic and James I. O’Neill. Either Marlboro or Sullivan West could nail down the final spot. Coming into the October 20 game, Sullivan West was in fourth place and Marlboro was in fifth. The two teams reversed positions as a result of Marlboro’s narrow win over the Bulldogs.

All of the game’s scoring came in the first half. Marlboro’s Rosie Edreira scored when a Sullivan West defender left Edreira unmarked. The ball came into the corner and was played across the middle where Edreira drilled it home. The Bulldogs nearly came right back on a breakaway by Michelle Rhodes but she drifted right giving the goalie an easy angle on the save. A short time later Kate Fanning had a direct kick from the left side that hit the crossbar. Freshman Kristen Neimann was running from about eight yards out, and as the ball dropped straight down into a puddle in front of the goal, Neimann poked it in. The teams stood at a 1-1 deadlock with ten minutes left in the half when an official called what Sullivan West’s coach Mike Mahoney referred to as “a phantom handball,” in the box. According to Mahoney the defender’s arm was extended and the official thought it hit her hand, but it went right on by. Amanda Toombs was granted a penalty shot, which she drilled past keeper Karry Johnston for the go-ahead goal. Johnston recorded five saves in the game and Marlboro’s Caitlyn Heinzinger had 14.

“That loss took control out of our hands when it comes to sectionals,” noted Mahoney.

LIBERTY, NY — The Bulldogs went on to beat Liberty 3-1 on October 22 by getting two goals in the first half from Tracy Henry. Kate Fanning added another with an assist from Kristen Brucher to keep the Bulldogs’ hopes alive for sectionals. Meanwhile, Marlboro lost 2-0 to John S. Burke Catholic.

After Sullivan West dropped a 3-0 decision to Burke on October 25 and Marlboro lost to O’Neill 5-1 on the same day, the close race for sectionals now comes down to each team’s last game. Sullivan West (5-10, 4-7 OCIAA) will face top seeded Highland, 13-2-1, (9-0-1OCIAA) on October 27, while Marlboro plays its last game against Liberty (4-12, 1-9 OCIAA) on October 29. A Marlboro loss would likely give Sullivan West the last remaining berth even if the Bulldogs lose to Highland.

Lady Yellowjackets await sectionals after notching three more wins

ELDRED, NY — After losing a narrow 3-2 decision at home to Tri-Valley on October 19, the Yellowjackets ran off three straight wins to close out their regular season at 10-7-1, 5-3-1 OCIAA. With home wins of 5-0 over The Family School on October 20 and 2-0 over Roscoe on October 22, coupled with a 2-0 road win over Fallsburg on October 25, the Yellowjackets now await the sectional seedings to see who they will be matched up against in the Class D tournament. Eldred finished its regular season in second place behind S.S. Seward (15-1, 9-0 OCIAA). The Spartans will be the tournament’s top seed. The tournament will also include Chapel Field (9-5-1, 5-3-1 OCIAA).

Bulldog boys fall to Burke and Monticello, beat Port Jervis

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — No doubt the highlight of this season will be the 2-2 tie at Class A Goshen, a team that only lost to Class AA Walkill on the first day of the season. Goshen also tied first place O’Neill (11-2-1, 5-0 OCIAA), a team the Bulldogs will have faced on October 26 by the time this paper has gone to press. This past week, Sullivan West lost at John S. Burke Catholic 3-0 on October 21 and then fell at home by the score of 4-1 to Monticello on October 22. The Bulldogs did record a 3-1 win against Port Jervis on October 25. In that game the Bulldogs got a pair of goals from Dave Lundgren and a score from Vincent Spruill. Assists came from Joe Winski, Kienan Garn and Kevin Cappiello. Joe Layman recorded 9 saves for the Bulldogs (6-8-2, 1-3-1 OCIAA).

Sullivan West will close out its season with an away game at Cornwall on October 29.