Soccer

Pride in stride

Liberty girls cap off uplifting week with league win over Fallsburg

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LIBERTY, NY — Oh what a week it was.

It began with the Liberty girls’ glorious 7-6 triumph over rival Sullivan West on September 23, a game coach Ashlea Prouty described as the best soccer game she’s ever been involved in.

That’s saying something for a veteran of the Warwick/Minisink Valley wars. In the heated fray with the Lady Bulldogs, Rebecca Scherer had four goals, Paulina Kleinberger had two and Jasmine Walizadeh provided the game winner for Liberty’s only win to date.

Kudos to the Lady Bulldogs as well, who fought back from an early deficit. Lindsey Bauer recorded the hat trick with her three goals, while Shelby Grishaber, Jillian Fife and Katrina Graby scored in the back-and-forth tilt that may go down as one of the most competitive games fought in Sullivan County this season.

It was Liberty’s first win, but it’s quality, not quantity, that matters.

With Fallsburg visiting to kick off the 2008 Pride Weekend, the stage was set to spread Red Fever with a burgeoning home crowd set for the double header that would feature a boys game under the lights against Chester, after a brief interlude of AYSO soccer in between the varsity games.

The Lady Indians wasted no time in showing their fervor against the young Lady Comets, who have yet to record a win. Coach Mandy Biccum’s squad has only two seniors in Joanna Blanchard and Brenda Flores. With an eighth grader in Zaira Pabon, four freshmen, six sophomores and four juniors, the Comets have much to build on. But the inexperience factor showed itself early against Liberty, also young with a preponderance of juniors, sophomores, freshmen and eighth grader Olivia Baum.

Liberty is also blessed with standout players like Scherer, Walizadeh and sophomore Paulina Kleinberger, agile junior keeper Taylir Lorino and a spate of other players who are getting better game by game.

Fallsburg had sophomore Cassie Orlan in goal. Toni Freeman is sidelined with a concussion sustained in a recent fray with Sullivan West.

Orlan made 21 saves by game’s end, including some remarkable grabs from balls that seemed destined to add to Liberty’s five scored in the fray.

Liberty took charge as Scherer raced up the right side and launched one from the corner. At 1:59 into the first period, she picked up a gorgeous cross from Kleinberger and swept by Orlan in a midair stride to bury the ball in the back of the net.

By game’s end, the talented striker would have two more as she evinced great foot skills and deftly wended her way through Fallsburg defenders.

Kleinberger continued to show her speed and talent as well. At 4:45, she took a precision pass from Walizadeh and completed her march up the right side to put one in to make it 2-0.

The attack continued with all the action taking place in the Fallsburg end.

Junior Kirsten Sauer followed her corner kick with a nice shot attempt. At 11:53, Walizadeh scored Liberty’s third goal with an assist from Scherer. The ball was stopped by Orlan but not before the ball had crossed the goal plain.

Fallsburg worked relentlessly to clear the ball and when they did, they were met by fullback Ceara Williams, who blasted it back into the realm where Liberty strikers could renew the onslaught.

At 20:26, Walizadeh crossed one to Scherer for the score and Liberty now led 4-0. Prouty began to sub in players.

With 6:06 gone in the second period, Scherer got the hat trick on an unassisted goal. Looking to feed a hungry teammate in front of the net, Scherer’s would-be cross slid into the cage for Liberty’s last strike of the day.

Jeni Stolow had her chances as Scherer fed her a couple of nice balls, but the shots missed their mark. The upbeat junior was all smiles, though, as she kept at it.

Fallsburg’s best chance of breaking the drought came as Blanchard raced up the middle toward the Liberty goal. But before she could take an angle, Lorino charged out and slid to stop the ball. Blanchard lost her balance and the ball ricocheted away to be cleared out by Liberty.

Liberty missed a chance as Wallgren had an open look on a cross from Scherer.

Fallsburg got fine play from Pabon, speedy striker Sierra Spechler, Orlan in goal, Blanchard and persevering sophomore Jasmine James. The Lady Comets fell to 0-4, (0-3 OCIAA). Liberty improved to 2-4-1 (2-2 OCIAA). Liberty’s tie was a 2-2 non-league draw with Monticello.

Later in the evening, after the fall sports seniors posed for pictures with parents, the Liberty boys prevailed over Chester 1-0 with a goal from Conor Siegel.

Visit riverreportersports.com for much more on the game and an album of photos.