By Lori Brown
GRAHAMSVILLE — Holding a slim 1-0 halftime lead, the S.S. Seward Spartans scored four goals to break open Friday afternoon’s Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Division V soccer game against the host Tri-Valley Bears at the Grahamsville Fairgrounds.
With its 5-0 victory, Seward improved its season record to 10-2 overall and 7-1 in Div. V.
Seward took a 1-0 lead when Kevin Smith fired a shot into the goal on an assist from Anthony Bailey 13:31 into the game.
T-V goalie Michael Devault had a save after Anthony Bailey kicked the ball toward the goal cage, but the ball was deflected by Devault and Kevin Smith kicked the ball into the net.
Seward recorded six corner kicks during the 1st half but couldn’t capitalize on the kicks. The Bears’ defense worked very hard to keep the Spartans from scoring any more goals in the first half.
Seward started off the second half with a very strong, dominating offense and continued it throughout the entire game. That aggressive offense enabled the Spartans to score four goals during the half.
John Sgombick gave Seward a 2-0 lead when he scored a goal thanks to an assist from teammate Josh Hoare only 1:32 into the second half.
Devin Wood scored the next Spartans’ goal with an assist from Sgombick 14 minutes into the half.
Bailey recorded Seward’s third goal of the half at the 19:19 mark. Sgombick assisted Bailey on the goal.
Bailey scored the Spartans’ last goal of the game on a direct kick just outside the goal box at 28:44.
T-V (1-9, 0-6 Div. V) held Seward from scoring in the last 11 minutes of the game, but was unable to score any goals to avoid being shut out.
Seward finished the contest with 29 shots on goal. Smith took 10 of those shots.
The Spartans also recorded 12 corner kicks.
Seward goalie Dalton Gill recorded one save in the game.
“This is our third game this week,” Seward Coach Bill Steele said. “We played Wednesday, last night and tonight. The guys are tired and their legs are shot. They are looking forward to the weekend.
“This field is like a rock and the ball moves super fast,” Steele continued. “The defense did their job. They won the ball at the middle of the field today. We had plenty of opportunities but just couldn’t finish today.”
Seward is scheduled to play three games again this week. The Spartans will visit Tuxedo and Marlboro and play host to Eldred.
“I thought in the first half we competed very well,” T-V Coach Jason Closs said. “Their energy was good and many guys played hard. We can’t give them five goals, maybe two or three we would have the opportunity to come back.
“Mike Devault, our keeper, is a warrior for us,” Closs added. “He has been taking some hard shots. He had a few fantastic saves today.”
Devault finished the contest with 14 saves.
Closs also noted that T-V’s Eugene Morton “has high energy and sets the tone.”
T-V is scheduled to play two OCIAA Div. V games this week. Today, the Bears will visit the Fallsburg Comets. On Thursday, T-V will visit the Chester Hambletonians.