‘Slaughterhouse Five’ plus one

By TED WADDELL
Posted 9/25/19

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — The home-team booters got blanked by a soccer team that took to the field like a well-oiled machine, one that relentlessly attacked the goal despite the valiant efforts of …

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‘Slaughterhouse Five’ plus one

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JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — The home-team booters got blanked by a soccer team that took to the field like a well-oiled machine, one that relentlessly attacked the goal despite the valiant efforts of Sullivan West’s star keeper Efrain Martinez to keep the visiting Liberty Indians from scoring.

On Thursday, September 19, the Bulldogs of Sullivan West (3-3) hosted the Liberty Indians (2-2) for a boys’ varsity soccer match.

In the first frame, the visitors breached the Bulldogs’ defense, scoring four goals: Chase Rachette assisted by Liam Henry; Owen Siegel assisted by Yucevin Canales, a direct by Henry, and to close the end of inning, a goal by Siegel off an assist by Rachette.

In the second half, it was once again all Liberty. They scored twice to take the match 6-0: Siegel scored off an assist by Canales, followed by Henry teaming up with Siegel to put the game on ice.

A few noteworthy takeaways from the game: listening to a majority of the Indians squad converse in their fluidly lyrical native language of Spanish as they controlled the field of play, watching the home team compete with a never-on-your-life call it quits attitude even when the game was out of reach, the Bulldogs’ keeper made some seriously sensational saves, and Liberty’s Siegel posted a hat trick with his trio of goals.

“We played really hard, but Liberty played the ball so well,” said Martinez.

So what about the Bulldogs?

“We’re already getting better as a team,” said the 16-year senior co-captain goalie, adding, “We’re just getting better… Positioning and knowing how to move, that will come with experience.”

Sullivan West boys’ varsity soccer coach Kia Murray said the Indians “worked us especially hard in the second half.”

His reflections from the match? “It’s really about what you take away from this game going into the next game… Under pressure, my guys tend to get quiet, so they need to be more vocal, and against a strong team like this, they aren’t moving up quickly enough, so we’ll play a defensive game against a very quick team.”

Stats: shots (SW 6, LIB 29), keeper saves (SW 29, LIB 3), corner kicks (SW 3, LIB 9).

Debbie Simpson has been coaching soccer at Liberty for 19 years, ranging from modified to jayvee and up varsity.

This season’s squad is led on the field by a couple of captains: full-timer Owen Siegel who is joined by another captain selected on a rotating basis.

“We have a lot of Spanish-speaking players, and a lot of non-Spanish players who are learning to speak Spanish,” said Simpson, adding, “They communicate well, verbally and non-verbally.”

From the perspective of this sports scribbler, this observation was reinforced after the game, as the Spanish-speakers from the opposing teams congratulated each other for a game well-played.

Michael Cuellar was Liberty’s rotating co-captain in the game against Sullivan West.

Asked what his main goal for the Indians booters this year is, the 17-year old junior center midfielder replied, “To work hard with my team, make it to sectionals and go as far as we can.”

Sullivan West, Liberty, Bulldogs, Indians, soccer

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