ONEONTA _ Perhaps the best way to avoid an upset is to play at a level the opposition cannot match.
So the top-seeded South Kortright boys soccer team did that Thursday on a sunny but frigid day at the National Soccer Hall of Fame fields. Not only were the Rams bigger than fifth-seeded Laurens, they were faster and more skilled.
The resulting 3-0 outcome reflected SK's domination in a Section Four Class D boys semifinal.
"They're very strong and they have very few weaknesses, and we knew that," said Laurens coach Dave Miller, whose team finished at 8-4-5 and was denied a third straight trip to the sectional final. "It was hard to get anything going and hats off to them for controlling the game."
From the moment Josh Palmatier converted a pass from Ryan Dorosky 21 1/2 minutes into play for the first goal, the only question seemed to be how many goals the Rams would score.
"I felt we played really well today," said SK coach Bob VanValkenburgh, whose team will meet second-seeded Margaretville for the third time this season in the Section Four Class D final at 11:15 a.m. Saturday back at the Soccer Hall. "We moved the ball well. Defensively, we marked up well and I thought we kept the pressure up the whole game."
The Rams (17-2-1), seeking their first sectional title since 1968, had several good chances before Palmatier broke through.
Dorosky set up the first goal by beating a Laurens defender on the right side and taking the ball to the end line before sending it back to Palmatier at the top of the 18-yard box. Palmatier settled it before hitting a hard, low shot just inside the left post.
"I just did what coach says," Palmatier said of his team-leading 12th goal of the season. "When the ball comes out, just fire it back in and hope to get a deflection. My teammate got it to me in pretty good shape."
SK's second goal was eerily similar to its first and came 40 seconds into the second half.
This time, it was Cody Burns taking the ball to the end line after beating two defenders on the right wing. Burns turned the corner and found an unmarked Trevor Holdridge on the right side of the penalty area, about 12 yards out. Holdridge, an eighth-grader, settled it before scoring inside the near post for his seventh goal this season.
"We try to get the ball outside every game," said VanValkenburgh, whose team enjoyed an 11-2 advantage in shots. "Some days we do it better than others. Ryan Dorosky, when he gets the ball outside, he's pretty good with it, and I thought Cody Burns did a good job setting up the second goal."
Burns capped the scoring with 8:52 left. He volleyed a bouncing ball from the right side of the box inside the near post from 15 yards to beat diving Leopards goalie Aaron Laing (four saves).
When the teams met Sept. 13, SK defeated Laurens, 1-0.
"They certainly have improved since the first time we saw them," said Miller, whose team graduated 12 seniors this past June that helped the Leopards win a Section Four Class D title in 2006 (beating SK, 2-0, in the final) and make the sectional final a year ago (2-1 loss to Cherry Valley-Springfield). "If (the Rams) gets through, they're going to give Section Three all they can handle. They've got the total package there."
Precisely what has SK done better since Sept. 13?
"I think we're moving the ball better and showing more skill," said VanValkenburgh, whose team shut out its 12th opponent Thursday. "I think we do a good job of settling it and moving it with give-and-gos."
SK and Margaretville split two meetings this season. The Blue Devils, 2-1 winners over Morris in the other boys semifinal Thursday at the Soccer Hall, defeated the Rams, 2-1, on Oct. 2. SK returned the favor in the Delaware League championship game, winning, 3-2.
"We feel pretty good, but either team is going to be a challenge," Palmatier said. "You just have to be ready to play."
South Kortright 3, Laurens 0
SECTION FOUR CLASS D SEMIFINAL
at National Soccer Hall of Fame
Laurens0 0 _ 0
South Kortright1 2 _ 3
5-Laurens (8-4-5): None.
1-South Kortright (17-2-1): Josh Palmatier 1-0, Ryan Dorosky 0-1, Eric Burns 1-1, Trevor Holdridge 1-0.
Shots-corner kicks: L 2-3; S 11-4.
Goalies: Aaron Laing (L) 4; Charlie Darling (S) 1.
___
Rob Centorani can be reached at rcentorani@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 209.
