Staff Report
They're the last two unbeaten boys soccer teams in The Daily Star's circulation area and they'll meet at 11 a.m. Saturday to decide the Section Four Class D title.
Top-seeded Cherry Valley-Springfield (18-0) advanced with a 1-0 victory over No. 5 Morris and second-seeded Margaretville (16-0-1) cruised to a 5-0 win against No. 3 Candor on Wednesday in Class D semifinals at the National Soccer Hall of Fame fields.
"We have respect for them and their program," Margaretville coach Jeremey Marks said of the Tri-Valley League champion Patriots. "Coach (Terri) Adams does a great job."
CV-S is in search of its second sectional title in three years. The Patriots defeated Laurens, 2-1, in the 2007 Class D final for the program's first sectional crown.
The Blue Devils, champions of the Delaware League, lost in the sectional final last season by a 1-0 score to South Kortright. Margaretville's last sectional title came in 2002, when it beat Downsville, 1-0, in the final.
CV-S 1, Morris 0
In the fourth meeting of the season between the Tri-Valley League rivals, the Mustangs held a 9-3 advantage in shots but failed to score against CV-S for the fourth time in 2009.
"It was much, much different than the last time," Morris coach David Sander said in reference to his team's 3-0 loss to the Patriots in the Tri-Valley League final Oct. 25. "I was much happier with the way we played today. We have several opportunities."
Shawn Cope, a junior, scored for the third straight game for the Patriots, with 25 minutes, 9 seconds left in the first half.
It started with a corner kick from the left side by sophomore Brett Adams. Alex Shuster headed it to the far post, where Cope finished it for his team-leading 14th goal of the season.
"We had a blown assignment on the far post and (Cope) punched it in," said Sander, whose team finished the season at 14-4-1.
Sander said his team had three excellent chances in the first half. Justin Utter hit the post after Cope's goal.
Utter then had a breakaway but pushed his shot wide as he collided with CV-S goalie Ben VanAlstine. Another time, Sander said Morris had three or four shots as the ball pinballed in the penalty box, but each shot was blocked a Patriots defender.
"I really felt we controlled the tempo for three-quarters of the game, if not more," said Sander, who added his team's 14 wins this season are a school record.
"It stinks that we lost, but I think we gave them a really good game as opposed to the Tri-Valley League final," he continued. "We know we left it all on the field. We played fantastic soccer."
The Patriots beat Morris, 2-0, Aug. 28, in the season-opener for both teams. Five days later, the Patriots defeated the Mustangs, 1-0.
For the season, CV-S held Morris scoreless for 320 minutes.
"They do a real nice job," Sander said of a CV-S squad that has 13 shutouts and has allowed five goals all season. "It almost seems like they have one extra player on the field. They know where to go and they create space so well and they're so well coached. I can't really say they have a hole. They always have 11 solid kids on the field. It's not just the defense or the midfield or the forwards _ they have an all-around good team."
Though Section Four stipulates that it's the winning coach's responsibility to call media outlets during sectionals, Adams did not contact The Daily Star. Numerous attempts to reach Adams at her home failed as her number was busy from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday.
CV-S 1, Morris 0
SECTION FOUR CLASS D
Semifinal at Soccer Hall
Morris0 0 _ 0
CV-S1 0 _ 1
5-Morris (14-4-1): None.
1-Cherry Valley-Springfield (18-0): Shawn Cope 1-0, Alex Shuster 0-1.
Shots-corner kicks: M 9-6; C 3-5.
Goalies: Joe Utter (M) 2; Ben VanAlstine (C) 3.
Margaretville 5, Candor 0
Five players scored for the second-seeded Blue Devils as they advanced to the Section Four Class D final for the second straight season, and did so in convincing fashion.
Tyler Smith and Javier Martinez had a goal and an assist apiece.
"I thought we possessed it well and guys were patient on the opportunities they were getting," Marks said of his team converting five of its 14 shots. "Candor has a good defense, but when we had a decent opportunity, we took advantage of it."
Marcus Moore opened the scoring about two minutes into play. He settled a pass from Smith at the 18 and "put a good stroke on it," Marks said.
It stayed that way until early in the second half.
"We had a little bit of a lull after that first goal," Marks said. "Our guys maybe thought it was going to be easier than it was. It was a pretty even first half. We might have a few more opportunities. We came out more focused in the second half."
Martinez then set up Cody Fronckowiak's goal nine minutes into the second half that made it 2-0. Fronckowiak scored to the far-right corner from 18 yards.
Mitchell Hull also scored for Margaretville, which held a 14-7 advantage in shots. Brian Faulkner made seven saves for Margaretville, one fewer than counterpart Randy Nedrow.
Margaretville 5, Candor 0
SECTION FOUR CLASS D
Semifinal at Soccer Hall
Candor0 0 _ 0
Margaretville1 4 _ 5
3-Candor (9-8): None.
2-Margaretville (16-0-1): Marcus Moore 1-0, Tyler Smith 1-1, Cody Fronckowiak 1-0, Javier Martinez 1-1, Greg Lehn 0-1, Peter Cella 0-1, Mitchell Hull 1-0, Ralph Falco 0-1.
Shots-corner kicks: C 7-2; M 14-5.
Goalies: Randy Nedrow (C) 8; Brian Faulkner (M) 7.
