By Lori Brown
FALLSBURG — The rainy weather has affected the soccer season for many area teams.
On Monday afternoon at Fallsburg Central School, the Chapel Field Lions played the Fallsburg Comets in the first game of the season for both teams.
Chapel Field was originally scheduled to host the game, but Chapel Field’s soccer field was still under water. Therefore the Comets hosted Lions in a non-league soccer game on a beautiful afternoon.
Helped by an advantage in shots on goal and corner kicks, Fallsburg prevailed, 4-1.
Chapel Field recorded its only corner kick just eight minutes into the first half but was unsuccessful.
With 15:30 elapsed the first half, Fallsburg (1-0) scored its first goal when Jose Rubio kicked the ball into the net with an assist from teammate Arturo Perez.
The Comets had seven corner kicks in the first half, but didn’t capitalize on them.  They took 10 shots on goal as they were very aggressive on the field.
Chapel Field goalie Vincenzo Pepe recorded five saves in the first half. Fallsburg goalie Dustin Foertsch recorded a save on the Lions’ only shot on goal.
Fallsburg scored its second goal when Perez had a clear, unassisted shot right up the middle 11:41 into the second half.
Fallsburg’s Sam Didinsky scored the third goal of the game unassisted with 16:33 elapsed in the second half.
Chapel Field (0-1) recorded its only goal when Adrienne Flemming scored on an assist by teammate Lou Rosa with 37:26 on the clock.
With only 40 seconds remaining in the game, Fallsburg’s Kyle Miller kicked the ball but it was deflected by Lions’ goalie Vincenzo Pepe. But Fallsburg’s Amado Gallo got to the ball and kicked it into the net to finish his team’s 4-1 victory.
Fallsburg dominated most of the game and had 21 shots on goal, while Chapel Field had four shots on goal. Fallsburg recorded eight corner kicks and Chapel Field had only one corner kick.
Pepe had 11 saves for the Lions and Foertsch made two saves for the Comets.
“This is our first game, and we have a lot of young guys,” Chapel Field Coach Chris Finnegan said. “I am trying to teach the 1, 2, touch and pass ball.
“The field is still under water,” he continued. “They are used to a slow ground ball because of the rain, but that is no excuse. The Fallsburg players had great shots.”  They were out of our class.  We always have a good game.”
Chapel Field played its second game of the season against the Tri-Valley Bears on Wednesday afternoon in Grahamsville. T-V defeated the Lions, 6-3, in the non-league contest.
“I had butterflies during the game,” Fallsburg Coach Herb Foertsch said. “I am really proud of all of them, they came together. They listened during practice. The young guys stepped up and really came through.
“We have to work on a few things,” Foertsch added. “We lost six seniors this year and only have three seniors now. We wanted a shutout, but we didn’t get it. We are preparing to go to sectionals again and hopefully beat S. S. Seward.”
The Comets played S.S. Seward in an Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association Division V match on Wednesday afternoon. Unfortunately for Coach Herb Foertsch and his players, Seward prevailed by the final score of 3-1.