By Rob Potter
NARROWSBURG — September 29, 2000 — Coaches always want to see their teams rebound from a lopsided defeat.
They want to see their players keep their heads up and improve the very next game.
For those reasons, Sullivan West/Narrowsburg girls’ soccer coach Linda Pomes was very happy Wednesday afternoon. After suffering a 10-0 pounding at Sullivan West/Delaware Valley on Monday, the Lady Indians defeated Livingston Manor, 3-1, in an Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Division VI game.
“To come back like this after the game we had (on Monday) says a lot about the heart and spirit these girls have,” Pomes said. “I’m pleased with the way they played today. They showed a lot of enthusiasm.”
Two goals midway through the first half gave host SW/Narrowsburg (2–7, 1–3 OCIAA) a lead it would not lose. Kim Jay scored the first goal with a long floating shot from the top of the goal box at 24:54.
Then, just four minutes later, the Lady Indians doubled their lead. On a corner kick, the ball floated into the box and into a crowd of players. SW/Narrowsburg’s Katie Yacino kicked the ball towards the net and the ball ricocheted off a Manor player and past goalie Danielle Franco.
Livingston Manor (2–5, 0–5 OCIAA) closed the gap midway through the second half, however. Amy Krupp sent a low shot towards the right goalpost and past Lady Indian goalie Beth Meyer. The ball hit the post and went into the net.
For a few seconds the players, coaches and officials were not sure if the goal was a goal as the ball wound up outside of the net. But it was quickly determined that after bouncing off the post the ball slipped through a hole in the netting connected to the post, so the goal was allowed.
Manor tried desperately to score the tying goal in the remaining minutes, but was unsuccessful. And with 10:02 left in the game, Narrowsburg sealed the win.
A Lady Wildcat was whistled for a hand ball in the goal box, giving SW/Narrowsburg a penalty shot. Kim Jay then zinged the ball over the shoulder of goalie Ashley Bowers, who had entered the game late in the first half.
“We had 28 shots on goal, but they didn’t go in,” said Manor coach Shirlee Davis. “We have got some things to work on. And I hope we can get over this.”
Davis noted that the absence of two of her starters — Nikki Argent and Stephanie Babich are both out with injuries — did not help matters.
“To play a tough game against Roscoe and lose 6-5 in double overtime (last Friday) and come here today and lose is very tough” Davis said. “All of the girls sitting on that bus right now are very disappointed.”
Naturally, Pomes had opposite feelings following the game.
“It’s so nice to get a win,” she commented. “This is the first ever Orange County League win for a Narrowsburg girls’ team. We’ve doubled our win total since last year.”
Meyer made 22 saves for the Lady Indians and Franco made four stops for Manor.