By Ted Waddell
FALLSBURG — October 14, 2003 – It’s crunch time for the Fallsburg girls varsity soccer squad.
In the wake of Friday’s 4-0 loss to the visiting Tuxedo Lady Tornadoes in an OCIAA Division V game, the Lady Comets need to win their next four games in regular season play to grab a berth in the upcoming sectionals. Fallsburg is now 4-8 overall on the season and 0-4 in Division V.
In the first half, Tuxedo (10-3, 4-1 Division V) scored three goals. At 33:50, Caitlyn McNamee put one into the net on an assist by Dariel Nowak, who then scored unassisted at 4:15 to give the Lady Tornadoes a 2-0 lead. With 2:53 remaining in the half, Kelly McCullough scored the third Tuxedo goal.
Terri Verbovsky scored the final Tuxedo goal just two minutes and four seconds into the second half.
Fallsburg goalkeeper Abby Smassanow was credited with 14 saves, while Lady Tornadoes goalie Kira Killmer had five saves.
A highlight of the otherwise windy afternoon was when “Cosita,” a chihuahua owned by Gustado Cruz, who is the father of Fallsburg junior midfielder Jamie Cruz, raced out on the field of play to be part of the action.
Fortunately, nobody mistook the little dog for a soccer ball and booted him into the net.
For the remainder of the game, “Cosita” safely watched the action from the sidelines.
Fallsburg Coach Lee Smassanow said that the first time his squad faced the Lady Tornadoes this season, Tuxedo played their “B” game.
This go around, Tuxedo fielded their “A” team and the margin of victory was greater.
Despite the loss, Smassanow focused on the positive aspects of his team’s performance.
“I was really proud of them, they did a great job,” Smassanow said. “We played well as a team.”