By Rob Potter
LIBERTY — They might be in different Classes according to Section IX, but after two close games in a week’s time, The Family School and Liberty’s boys’ soccer teams are as about equal in class as you can get.
Both games ended in 2-1 non-league victories for the home team – Liberty coming out on top this past Friday just seven days after the Falcons prevailed by the same score in Hancock.
“We played Family School last week up there and they won 2-1,” Liberty coach Debbie Simpson said. “So it was nice to get the win today. Our guys played well. We got a goal early in each half and our players fed off that positive energy.”
Liberty (8-5-1) wasted little time in taking the lead. Just three minutes into the game, Sergio Diaz scored on a shot from close range after a pair of crossing passes. Brendan Siegel assisted Diaz on the goal.
“We made scoring first a priority,” Simpson said. “Getting the early lead gave us momentum for the entire game.
The Indians took a 2-0 advantage early in the second half on an unassisted goal by Pedro Garcia. At 3:59 into the half, Garcia gained control of the ball about 15 yards to the left of the goal cage. He then kicked the ball into the far corner of the net.
The Family School (10-2-2), which was ranked eighth among New York State Class D boys’ soccer teams in the Oct. 16 poll by the New York State Sportswriters Association, pulled to within a goal midway through the second half. With 22:18 remaining in the contest, Lucas Valow-Picarello scored on a low shot from the top of the goal box.
Despite taking some shots on goal in the remaining minutes, the Falcons could not record the tying goal.
“We wanted to keep the ball away from Family School midfielder Tim Reynolds,” Simpson added. “He’s a great player for them and we did a good job of keeping them from getting the ball to him.”
Liberty finished the contest with 12 shots on goal, while The Family School took 11 shots.
Indians’ goalkeeper Julian Spina made five saves and Falcons’ goalie Max Wilkey had four saves.
Family School Coach Carlton Williams praised the Indians’ performance.
“They played well,” he said. “It was a good game and they came out on top after we beat them at our place last week.
“No. 7 Pedro Garcia and No. 8 Sergio Diaz did a lot of good things for them,” Williams added.
Even though the Falcons lost, Williams lauded their effort.
“We played a good game,” he said. “We’re a Class D school and we were able to stay right in there with a Class C school.”