By Lori Brown
GRAHAMSVILLE — October 1, 2010 — The Tri-Valley boys’ soccer team won its first game of the season on Wednesday afternoon.
The Bears defended their home turf by defeating the Livingston Manor Wildcats, 3-1, in a non-league game at the Grahamsville Fairgrounds. With the win, T-V improved its record to 1-5-1.
Both teams were looking for their first victory of the season and therefore played aggressively.
However, for the first 20 minutes of the contest, neither defense gave up a goal.
T-V’s Josue Ramos scored the first goal of the afternoon with an assist from teammate Tyler Ter Bush with 19:08 remaining on the clock.
Manor (0-8) came back with a corner kick, but after two shots on goal the ball was booted out away from the goal.
With 9:12 left until halftime, Ramos netted his second goal of the game. The unassisted tally extended the Bears’ lead to 2-0.
T-V then prevented the Wildcats from scoring to maintain its two-goal advantage at halftime.
But Manor came on strong in the second half.
Manor’s Kenny Fisk shot the ball past T-V goalie Mike Devault. Both Emmet Barnhart and Dharamhet Khangura assisted Fisk on the goal, which cut the Bears’ lead in half at 2-1.
The Wildcats did their best to tie the game, but Devault, who recorded 12 saves during the match, didn’t allow another goal.
With 3:30 left in the game, T-V’s Andrew Malone scored an unassisted goal to help secure his team’s victory.
“Inderpreet Khangura played really good defense,” Manor Coach Chris Cosmark said. “We need to have better passes and more patient passing.”
Manor goalie Graig Godlewski made 10 saves during the contest.
T-V Coach Jason Closs was very pleased to see his team earn a victory.
“We have had some very close games,” he said. “We went into double overtime with Chapel Field and Eldred.
“During the first half we played well, if we released the ball a little earlier we would have had more success,” Closs said of Wednesday’s game. “Our offense was much quicker than their defense. In the second half, we went in more defense-minded.
“Our goalie, Mike Devault, is much improved,” Closs added. “He is more active and vocal now.
Closs concluded by saying, “We work hard and deserved a win.”