Soccer
Wildcats get tough: down Freeport, Greely
By Uwe Seeler
York's Kyle Banfield moves strong to the ball in last week's victory at home against Freeport.
Photo by Tori Rasche
50-50 BALL. Andrew Hirst wins this one in recent boys' soccer JV action against Freeport.
Photo by Lev Yashin
That's how York Boys' Soccer Coach Jeff Smith summed the past week's performance of his improving team.
After going 1-2 to start the season, York has now run off four straight wins, the last two against legitimate playoff contenders Freeport and Greely.
The wins over Freeport, 2-1, and Greely, 1-0, left the Wildcats on a good roll heading into last night's return match against league-leaders Yarmouth, who pounded York 4-0 earlier in the season.
Against Freeport last Wednesday, Sept. 20, at York, the Wildcats had to come from behind after a skipping shot from Will Smith found its way past keeper Dan Graziano to give the Falcons the lead with just under 10 minutes left in the first half.
York upped the pressure in the second half and brought things level when Ryan Clausen scored with just over 20 minutes left in the half. Three minutes later, it was a hustling Clausen who assisted Alex Ciccolini-Foley for the game winner, sending the Wildcats off to face undefeated Greely with their record set at 4-2.
The Rangers were fresh off big games against top-ranked Yarmouth, a 0-0 draw, and Falmouth, a 2-0 win, when they hosted the Wildcats last Friday, Sept. 22. But the story of this game was the clean sheet by York keeper Graziano, who returned to form with some big stops early, setting the stage for the confidence-building win.
York's lone goal, and the eventual game winner, came at the midway point of the first half when senior Jason Durkin scored on a rocket from the corner of the box past the diving Greely keeper, Oliver Blum. York settled in to the lead, and then controlled play, holding on for the 1-0 final.
The big win left the Wildcats at 5-2, and right back in the mix of things.
The Tuesday, Sept. 26, game against Yarmouth was scheduled after press time. See next week's edition for a full report.
