Boys’ soccer

Sullivan West comes up big in shutout of Panthers

By RICHARD A. ROSS

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — Making predictions in sports is risky business. But if the early season play by Sullivan West’s boys’ varsity soccer team is any augury, this year could be something special.

Fighting tooth-and-nail against annual nemesis Class A Cornwall in the September 6 season opener, the Bulldogs were edged out 2-1 by the Dragons, a team that has beaten them consistently over recent years.

Coming out firing on September 8 against the Monticello Panthers, a team that bested them 5-1 last season, the Bulldogs unveiled great proficiency upfront and on defense. Keeping the ball in the Panthers’ end nearly the entire game, the Bulldogs showed their strength up the middle with feisty play by Jonathan Reynolds, Kevin Cappiello and Garrett Owen. Workmanlike contributions by Chris Franke, Rich Feeney, Ross Bernhardt, Kevin Brewer and Kienan Garn kept the Panthers back on their heels.

“Sho” Reynolds recorded a hat trick with a trio of explosive goals and contributed an assist as Garn put one home. Brewer had two assists and Feeney had another, as the Bulldogs kept goalie Dennis Stafford busy all afternoon. Their own goalie Joe Layman got to enjoy the beauty of a late summer afternoon, occasionally punctuated by one of his nifty saves.

Playing without standout striker Krystian Krol, who just returned from Poland and was ineligible for this match, Monticello never got on track. Coach John Maranzana refused to use Krol’s absence as an excuse. “Every facet of our game needs improvement,” said a disappointed Maranzana. “We had no hustle, couldn’t win 50/50 balls, had no shape and our midfielders never got involved in the attack.”

Sullivan West’s coach Debbie Owen, who replaced outgoing coach Joe Ebeling, was delighted with her team’s efforts. “They filled in and supported one another,” she said. “They wanted and needed this win. Each player had something to add to this effort,” she said.

Assistant coach Ron Bernhardt agreed. “We got off to a quick start. We used our corners and spread the field. We hustled and Cappiello neutralized the middle for us. We had balance all over the field,” he said. The win evened the Bulldogs’ record at 1-1 while Monticello fell to 0-2. The Panthers were edged out by John S. Burke Catholic 2-1 earlier in the week.