Brandon Lane scored two goals as host Cooperstown advanced in the Section Three Class C boys soccer tournament with a 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Sauquoit Valley on Monday.
The third-seeded Redskins (14-3) haven't had a game in nearly three weeks.
"We haven't played in 18 days," Cooperstown coach Frank Miosek said. "We weren't sharp the first 25 minutes."
Lane's goal with 18 minutes, 50 seconds remaining in the second half snapped a 1-all tie. He got the ball on the left side 40 yards out and dribbled through two defenders. He shot from 12 yards to give the Redskins the lead.
"He was kind of a possessed warrior," Miosek said. "He was not to be deterred."
Miosek said he moved Lane from sweeper to striker six games ago.
"Since he moved from sweeper to striker, I think he has 16 goals," Miosek said. "He kept telling me he was a striker. ... He can play any position. He's very coachable and very sportsmanlike."
Sixth-seeded Sauquoit Valley (9-7) took the lead 5:33 into the game off a restart. Mike Eisinger took the kick from 25 yards on the left side.
He sent it into the middle where Kenny Hadzick collected the ball with his chest and then shot from 8 yards.
"We did not track it well and (Cooperstown goalie Kevin Huggins) was caught in limbo," Miosek said. "It was too far out for him to go get it and he had no chance at the shot."
Lane's goal with 3:06 remaining in the first half tied the score at 1.
The Redskins had a restart from 20 yards in the middle. With a Sauquoit Valley wall set up slightly to the right, Lane shot around the wall to the right, slipping it inside the right post. .
"It was a very-well placed shot," Miosek said. "(Sauquoit Valley goalie Evan Owens) was screened."
Miosek also pointed out the play of midfielder Jake Chase and fullback Will Dykstra as being key in Monday's victory. Huggins finished with five saves for Cooperstown, which had a 32-11 advantage in shots.
The Redskins meet second-seeded Bishop Ludden (14-2) in a semifinal. Miosek said the game is tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at New Hartford.
The teams met in a semifinal last season, tying 1-1 after regulation. Cooperstown advanced by winning penalty kicks, 5-4.
Cooperstown 2, Sauquoit 1
SECTION THREE CLASS C
Semifinal
Sauquoit Valley1 0 _ 1
Cooperstown1 1 _ 2
6-Sauquoit (9-7): Kenny Hadzick 1-0, Mike Eisinger 0-1.
3-Cooperstown (14-3): Brandon Lane 2-0.
Shots-corner kicks: S 11-1; C 32-6.
Goalies: Evan Owens (S) 17; Kevin Huggins (C) 5.
