CHITTENANGO _ Facing a stubbornly defensive squad from Marathon, Cooperstown couldn't afford any lapses.
The Redskins had one, though, and it turned out be a season-ender.
The Section Four champion Olympians used a restart late in the first half that Brendan Morrison finished to beat Cooperstown, 1-0, in a Class C state boys soccer quarterfinal Saturday at Chittenango High.
On an unusually mild mid-November day, give the Olympians credit for scoring on a foot-to-head-to-head combination with 2 minutes, 35 seconds left in the first half.
But to describe Cooperstown's defense on that sequence as anything other than marshmallow soft would be inaccurate. The odd part was the Redskins _ champions of Section Three for the first time since 1991 _ had ample time to set their defense.
Jared Davenport started it for Marathon with a free kick from 40 yards near the left sideline. He sent it to the right side of the penalty box to Josh Lincoln, who didn't have a Cooperstown defender within 3 yards of him. Lincoln sent a diagonal header to an unmarked Morrison about 8 yards from the goal. Morrison then scored cleanly on a header to the far post.
"They didn't track (Lincoln) back well and then I slid in behind my guy," Morrison said of his fifth goal of the season.
Added Cooperstown coach Frank Miosek: "You could say we didn't track on that restart and they put together a good combination. (Lincoln) was able to touch it across the goalmouth without us challenging him. But then again, somebody didn't track the second guy. The tracks didn't happen."
On a day when quality scoring chances seemingly occurred as often as solar eclipses, Morrison's goal all but signaled the end of the Redskins' season.
Cooperstown took 12 shots, but only one of those tested Marathon goalie Evan Hall.
It came with 19:50 left in the opening half, when Jake Chase lined a 20-yard shot from the middle of the field. Hall jumped and secured it with two hands over his head.
Thereafter, the Olympians (17-2) defense constricted en route to their 15th shutout of the season.
Senior midfielder John Robinson and defender Davenport stood out for a Marathon squad that advanced to the state final four for the third time since 2005.
"He's a spaz," Marathon coach Chip Stewart said of Robinson, an undersized but active player. "He's a workhorse. He's our blue-collar guy. He does all the dirty stuff and he'll fight. He probably ran 10 miles out there. He's in the offense, but he's always back on defense."
Davenport guarded Cooperstown standout Brandon Lane, who finished his senior season with 18 goals and nine assists.
"We had Jared Davenport marking (Lane) all day and I don't think he took a shot," Stewart said.
Miosek said Chase, whose senior season included 19 goals and 14 assists, missed Cooperstown's last two practices with an illness.
"They did a nice job tracking Lane and, not to make any excuses, but Chase was probably half-speed," Miosek said.
Marathon will play in a state semifinal Saturday at the National Soccer Hall of Fame fields in Oneonta.
"I have no complaints," Miosek said. "Of course, you're upset you can't go on, but you're not going to get upset losing, 1-0. I'd rather lose, 1-0, than 5-0."
Marathon 1, Cooperstown 0
CLASS C STATE TOURNAMENT
Quarterfinal at Chittenango High
Number before team indicates section
Marathon1 0 _ 1
Cooperstown0 0 _ 0
4-Marathon (17-2): Brendan Morrison 1-0, Josh Lincoln 0-1.
3-Cooperstown (16-4): None.
Shots-corner kicks: M 9-4; C 12-2.
Goalies: Evan Hall (M) 5; Kevin Huggins (C) 1.
___
Rob Centorani can be reached at rcentorani@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 209.
