Soccer

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Sullivan West and Liberty battle to a scoreless overtime stalemate in key league tilt

By RICHARD A. ROSS

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — Shakespeare’s words came to mind for the second time this week at yet another remarkable soccer match.

“Past is prologue,” from “The Tempest” fueled the story of the Liberty girls overtime win over Tri-Valley. Macbeth’s “Tis a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury and signifying nothing” encapsulated the battle rematch fought between Sullivan West and Liberty’s boys on October 3.

Idiot? Certainly. Sound and fury? You bet! Signifying nothing? Absolutely not.

The teams battled relentlessly for 100 minutes to a 0-0 overtime stalemate in a game each wanted more than any other this season. Liberty won the “Red Cross” game 1-0 and Sullivan West players still gnash teeth in its recollection. They hoped this one could be called “Blue Cross.”

This was a must win for Sullivan West. With only an OT win over O’Neill under their belt, the Bulldogs’ sectional hopes could have hinged on this fray. Liberty looked to continue its push for a return to sectionals.

This game featured great work in goal by Sullivan West’s Logan Grishaber and Liberty’s Will McGuire, who registered 27 and 11 saves respectively. But most of this fray was fought in the midfield with the full compliment of players engaged in the heated battle.

Liberty’s footwork was impressive, but Sullivan West handled the attack with equal skill and fervor. Each had its scoring chances. But when push came to shove, neither was able to get that one key goal to garner the win.

Liberty’s Jacob Kleinberger fired the game’s opening salvo as Grishaber snared his first memorable grab of the afternoon. Bulldog Mitch Ellmauer parried nearly five minutes in. Both teams were whistled often for not playing the ball and numerous direct kicks became the order of the day.

The play was physical but well within reason as the game was officiated in a balanced way. As things heated up, Liberty’s Max Siegel and Sullivan West’s Justin Armstrong would each earn a yellow card and have to watch their step when they returned. Liberty’s Steven Moreno sent one goal but Grishaber leaped and tipped it up over the top of the net at 25:15 of the first period.

Great balls were sent by both teams. Moreno sent a beauty to Ben Grisafe. Kevin Correa sent several to a charging Lucas Bauer or Andy Kinch.

Liberty’s Kris Ramos was met by the unflappable Grishaber. A great pass by Grisafe met the toe of Liberty’s Tim Burgio but his shot sailed over the cage.

Punch, counterpunch.

As Sullivan West coach Debbie Owen later would quip, “The spectators got their money’s worth, even though they didn’t pay to watch.”

Just before the half, Justin Armstrong drew sighs from the Bulldog crowd as his shot veered just left of the goal. The score stood at 0-0 at the half.

He sent one over the top to start the second period at just a little more than one minute in. Liberty countered with a pretty give and go from Heinle to Burgio.

Corner kicks, handballs, direct kicks and saves ensued time after time.

Back in the first period, Bauer had sustained a mighty hit, which had left him a bit fuzzy. Consequently, any thought of taking Grishaber out of the goal and putting his great strike ability up front was not an option due to the lingering effects on backup keeper Bauer.

“We just couldn’t take the chance,” Owen would later say. “It just wasn’t an option.”

Eric Minton fired one for Sullivan West. Time and again, he and other teammates would literally go head to head with Liberty players in the midfield.

Late in the second period, Liberty fired chance after chance. Moreno had the best one but couldn’t get enough zip on the ball to beat Grishaber. Other shots followed, but the Bulldogs dodged each and every onslaught.

But for all of Liberty’s great chances, it was Sullivan West that could have ended the game with a dramatic final goal. Alex Lander sent a gorgeous pass ahead to a charging Kinch, but the shot sailed just wide and the game went into OT.

In the first OT, Armstrong picked up a yellow card. Liberty kept up the heat but didn’t score. The second OT period ensued, but the standoff persisted. Kinch had a beauty and McGuire drew gasps with another highlight grab.

At the final whistle, the body language of each team revealed their disappointment. While this was soccer at its best, for the players, it was a missed opportunity. To look at their faces, you would have thought that both squads had just undergone a terrible loss.

Liberty coach Anne Ramos had two words to sum up the fray. “Keeper’s game,” she said. Her assistant Debbie Simpson admitted to being speechless.

Owen gave her usual insightful analysis. “It was a very evenly matched game. There were breakaways for both sides and there were chances that each team had, some that required fantastic saves.” Owen went on to say that even though the game was physical, both teams stayed in control. She was pleased with her team’s ability to contain Liberty’s ball handling. “We did a much better job than last time and we were able to break through their defense.” The tie brought the Bulldogs record to 3-6-1 (1-3-1 OCIAA). Liberty is now 4-7-1 (2-1-2 OCIAA).

To make sectionals, Sullivan West will need to win its remaining league games against Fallsburg, O’Neill and Burke.

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