Class A Boy’s Section 9 Semifinals

Panthers shock top seed Wallkill to gain a final berth

Second 1-0 shutout in a row ends 35-year absence from finals

By RICHARD A. ROSS

WALLKILL, NY — It’s been at least 35, years as near as anyone can reckon, since the Monticello boys’ soccer team has played for a Section 9 title.

But in an era where lengthy droughts, such as those held by the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox, have ended with titles, the Panthers are hoping to conclude an incredible run with one more win when they face Goshen on November 5 at the Hudson Valley Sports Dome.

Fifth-seeded Monticello shocked first-seeded Wallkill with a 1-0 upset victory to gain a berth in the sectional finals. Wallkill was a semifinalist in last year’s state tournament. The Panthers did it with a goal by Andrew Moss scored at 1:46 into the sectional semifinal. He was assisted by Piero Pelosi. On an indirect kick, Pelosi played the ball at the far post. Moss got the deflection and kicked it in to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

After the Moss goal, the two teams battled to a scoreless deadlock the rest of the way as the 1-0 margin stood up, supported in great part, by the sterling effort of goalie Kenneth Corley, who stopped 28 shots en route to the victory.

Wallkill outshot Monticello 28 to three, but one of those three Panther shots was obviously the difference-maker. “Our defense played an amazing game,” noted Moss, who added that some of Corley’s saves were unbelievable. Corley took over in the net for the injured Dennis Stafford, who went down with a season-ending break to his knee.

The victory came only a day after the Panthers ousted fourth-seeded Red Hook by the same 1-0 margin.

In the upcoming final, Monticello would face Goshen. The Gladiators were victorious in both of those matches. “They are a very skilled team,” noted Moss.

But so was Wallkill.

In a time marked by teams of destiny, it was the fond hope of the Monticello Panthers to pull off one more miraculous win. By virtue of their win over Wallkill, the Panthers raised their record to 7-9-3. Unfortunately, the Panthers fell to Goshen 5-0 in the final, ending their year at 7-10-3. The final loss, however, cannot eclipse the excitement and drama of Monticello’s finest season.

Bulldogs’ season ends with semifinal loss to Spackenkill

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — The euphoric win over Highland had little carryover against eventual Section 9 champion Spackenkill on November 2. Spartan Lino Laveglia scored two goals as second-seeded Spackenkill ousted sixth-seeded Sullivan West by the score of 4-0. Josh Maley and Antonio Laveglia also had goals for Spackenkill.

The Bulldogs lost their goalie Joe Layman after his nose was broken. Logan Grishaber replaced him in goal. Layman had 10 saves before his departure. Sullivan West ended its season at 9-9-2. Despite the disappointment of not making it to the finals, this was Sullivan West’s finest soccer season and something the players and their coaches will deem memorable for years to come.

Spackenkill went on to defeat James I. O’Neill 4-0 to take the Class B title.