By Ted Waddell
HANCOCK — October 18, 2002 – “It was a muddy mess,” Liberty Central School Coach Hazel Yaun said of playing the Family School Foundation team Tuesday in Hancock
“In our half of the field, we sunk into the goal,” she said. “The kids’ feet were getting stuck in the mud.”
But as the Indians’ spikes were getting bogged down in the clinging mud, the Falcons seemed to fly above the field and posted a 7-2 victory in the non-league match.
In the first half, the Family School (10-4) scored five unanswered goals until Liberty (6-7-2) scored on a penalty kick in the closing minutes of the half.
At 14:00 David Coombe scored unassisted for the home team, and again two minutes later to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead.
Dan Witcher fired a shot past the Indians goalie Jeremy Liu on an assist by Mike O’Brien at the 20 minute mark, and Miles Farkas scored three minutes later off an assist by O’Brien.
At the 31 minute mark, Colin McCless put the Family School up 5-0.
A minute later, Liberty’s leading scorer, Mike Salvia, scored on a penalty kick. At the half, the Family School led 5-1.
Early into the second 40 minutes of play, McCless served the Indians notice that the Family School hadn’t forgotten how to play “beat the keeper” by scoring on an assist off an assist by Coombe.
Six minutes later, Salvia scored on a give-and-go assist from Carlos Ramirez to make it a 6-2 contest.
Miles Borghraef scored for the Falcons at the 14 minute mark off an assist by Farkas, a starter who just returned to the field of play after being sidelined for eight consecutive games due to a back injury.
The Family School’s John Fisher had 6 saves, while Liu made 10 saves for Liberty. Shots of goal: Family – 17; Liberty – 8.
“The shorter field really hurt us,” Yaun said. “We’re not used to playing on a field this short . . . but I think we were much stronger in the second half going after the ball. We just didn’t have a defense today.”
Liu was back guarding the net after a short stint on the sidelines. Yaun expects him to be anchoring the cage for the remainder of the regular season and into the upcoming sectionals.
“We’re looking forward to making the sectionals,” she said. “It’s something the boys haven’t done in years.”
Last season, the Indians had a 1-12 record.
The Family School’s Farkas said the soccer season is going well for the Falcons.
“Our defense is improving,” he said. “We’re trying to work the ball to the outside and get the crosses. I think we’re going to do real well this season.”
Steve Lascari said the Falcons were a bit “here and there” at the start of the year, but “now we’re coming along good.”
His reaction to the Family School’s five-goal victory over Liberty?
“I’m glad we won,” said Lascari.
Falcon Coach Bill Musgrove said his team played well offensively.
“We moved the ball really well in the first half,” he said.
A few games ago, the Family School lost its only returning booter to a grades issue, so now the squad is comprised of all new players.
“At this point, we don’t have a single player left from last season,” Musgrove said.
Looking ahead to the sectionals, Musgrove said, “We have four games in the regular season, so it’s coming down to the nitty gritty.”