by Ryan Mosher and Gail Delurey
The Hoosick Falls Boys Varsity soccer team has struggled through the first half of the 2011 season compiling a 1-3-1 record entering this week’s games at Granville and home against Tamarac.
On Friday, September 23, the Panthers traveled to Granville looking to pick up their first WASAREN League victory. On a rainy day Hoosick Falls secured a 3-1 victory. Hoosick Falls came out fast, scoring two goals early in the first half, one by Tyler Carr, the other by Drew Phillips.
After that the intensity faded, and Granville became the aggressor. The Panthers defense, and goalie Evan Phillips stepped up to the challenge though, keeping the Golden Horde off the scoreboard in the first half. In the second half PJ Priore added an insurance goal before Granville’s G. Pratt netted a goal. The Panthers led in corners 4 to 2 and shots on goal 17 to 8. Granville’s keeper, Devin Buxton, had 11 saves. Hoosick Falls’ Evan Phillips collected four saves. The regular starting keeper, Cody Gaines, was resting from injuries received in the Hoosic Valley game.
After that win, the team hosted Tamarac on Tuesday. The teams battled fiercely in the first half, neither scoring or gaining the upper hand in play. Early in the second half, the Bengals scored on a corner kick and that gave them the momentum they needed. Tamarac applied more pressure in the coming minutes and were able to score again, making it 2-0. The Panthers made a push towards the end of the game, but the Bengals defense and goalie did not allow them to score.