Democrat Photo by Rob Potter MONTICELLO PLAYERS BRYAN Astras (7) and David Valencia shadow Sullivan West’s Henry McGrath (middle) as the three chase a loose ball in Tuesday’s OCIAA game.

Bulldogs Fall to Panthers

By Rob Potter
JEFFERSONVILLE — October 20, 2000 – Despite the cool, misty conditions and an early deficit, the Monticello boys’ soccer team persevered Tuesday afternoon in an Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Division III match at Sullivan West.
The Panthers rallied to record a 4-2 win over the host Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs grabbed the early momentum when Kevin Erlwein opened the scoring with a goal off a nice pass from teammate Chad Powell six minutes into the game. But Monticello (6–9, 5–6 OCIAA) responded later in the first half.
With 15:18 remaining in the first half, Florian Neubert sent a low shot past Sullivan West goalie Bruce Nober and into the net. And Neubert gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead five minutes later when he dribbled past a pair of Bulldog defenders and again fired a hard, low shot into the net.
Sullivan West (2–13, 2–9 OCIAA) pulled even at 2-2 two-and-a-half minutes into the second half. Craig Corigliano sent a shot from the edge of the goal box high over Panther goalie Eric Johnson.
But Monticello scored twice in the final 35 minutes to seal the win.
Less than two minutes after Corigliano’s tying tally, Conrado Szilard gave the lead back to Monticello with a low shot to Nober’s left.
Bryan Ortiz added the final Monticello goal with 18:16 showing on the clock.
Monticello coach Kevin O’Shea was happy with the win, since his team is “fighting to get into the sectionals.”
“Anytime you can win a league game on the road it’s a good win,” O’Shea said.
The coach added that he was a bit concerned when his team appeared sluggish in the early moments of the game.
“We didn’t come off the bus ready to play and then they scored that early goal,” O’Shea explained. “But after they scored, I think it perked us up a bit. And Florian’s two goals got everyone else going after that.”
Sullivan West coach Howie Whitmore was pleased with his team’s effort. He noted the squad is still learning to work together.
“A few times we passed the ball really well and moved the ball down towards their net,” Whitmore said. “Our kids played hard and did what they needed to do.”
He added that it is tough to move up two classes, as the Bulldogs compete as a class B school. Whitmore’s previous Narrowsburg squads —which also included Delaware Valley student-athletes — played a Class D schedule.
“But at least we’re scoring,” said Whitmore, whose squad has posted a sub-.500 OCIAA mark but has been competitive in a lot of games.
Nober had eight saves for the Bulldogs and Matt Pomes, who came in for Nober in the final few minutes, stopped three Panther shots. Johnson recorded five saves for Monticello.