Soccer

Night fever

Liberty downs Tri-Valley in a rainy night game under the lights on Pride Weekend

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LIBERTY, NY — The Liberty boys soccer team did their part on October 11 to enhance Pride Weekend as the Indians defeated Tri-Valley in a game under the lights.

Senior night honored Kurt Ramos, Austin McVicker, Matt Arielly, Matt Cerullo, Mike Dunnigan and Saeed Robinson.

Dunnigan, who was hurt during baseball season and missed the early part of soccer season, got to play for part of the first period. Running up and down the field and kicking the ball aggressively, Dunnigan drew accolades from the large crowd that lined the fence.

Robinson wasted no time in firing the game’s first shot, but it went wide. In goal for Tri-Valley was first-year soccer player Brandon Mariner. It was only his second game as a keeper but he showed remarkable poise and great instincts. A year ago, Mariner was playing football for the Bears.

Tri-Valley made a run early and got a nice cross from Gavin Perrella to Rex Mulder. The shot sailed too high. Nate Coelho was also highly active for the Bears, but it was Liberty that controlled the play. Robinson raced up the left sideline as he fed McVicker, who had an open side of the net but missed wide. Liberty rained shots at Mariner but nearly all went straight to his chest.

The teams played to a scoreless tie in the first half. At 29:01 Robinson came up the left side and, turning his way toward the front of the net, he drilled one by Mariner for the game’s first goal.

Less than 20 seconds later, Tim Burgio buried one, with an assist from Kris Ramos, to make it 2-0. Liberty improved to 8-4 with the non-league win. Tri-Valley’s record fell to 1-9-1. Tom Fix recorded nine saves for Liberty, while Mariner had 18 for Tri-Valley.

O’Neill shocks Liberty with four un-answered goals in comeback league win

The Lady Indians have a lot of pride and hoped to follow up the boys’ win with a glittering performance of their own, especially since it was against James I. O’Neill, a team they had lost to in a shortened game by only one goal in Highland Falls.

A huge home crowd assembled, braving the rain, to see the ladies in red and white work their magic. Liberty’s eldest stateswomen posed for photos with their parents before the game. This year’s seniors included Brittany Austin, Katie Baxter, Erica Belgard, Deanna Burgio, Sam Panagakos, Taylor Jardine, Kelsey Rourke, Kim McKay and Kelley Lockwood.

O’Neill was just coming off a 1-0 loss to Sullivan West the day before, a game in which their tying goal was waved off as time expired, so the Lady Raiders were in no mood for back-to-back league losses.

After Liberty built up a three-goal lead with scores by Jardine, Rebecca Scherer and Jasmine Walizadeh, the unthinkable happened. O’Neill came back with one goal before the half by Kate Cronin, two in the second by Caitlin Guerra, and the game winner from Caroline Cannon, and evinced the problem the Lady Indians have had all season when faced with the lead. They start playing back on their heels instead of taking it to the opposition. This time out, maybe it was the rain or the chill in the air. Maybe it was something deeper. Whatever it was, it has Liberty coach Ashley Prouty concerned.

O’Neill keeper Jessica Schneider recorded five saves, while Taylor Lorino had 9. O’Neill improved to 9-5 (4-2 OCIAA), while Liberty fell to 10-4 (2-3 OCIAA). Both teams are assured a sectional berth, but a hungry Sullivan West team, many of whom were watching this game with rapt attention, is looking forward to hosting the Lady Indians under the lights on October 22. A win in that one will put Sullivan West into the sectional mix as well, while paying Liberty back for denying them that privilege that resulted from a tie on the last day of the 2006 regular season.

Visit www.riverreportersports.com for an album of photos.