Thursday, September 26, 2002
CCS girls beat Hamilton, boys lose in overtime, 2-0
By ERIC AHLQVIST
Editor
The Cooperstown girls soccer team was able to end the "Hamilton jinx" on Saturday, scoring three first half goals in a 10 minute span on the way to a 4-2 Center State Conference victory.
Hamilton has won their side of the league the last two years, defeating Cooperstown in two close games the past two seasons.
The Lady Redskins then traveled to Sauquoit on Tuesday, absorbing their worst loss of the season, 5-1.
On Saturday, CCS senior Stephanie Smith and Kaylin Raggi combined to get the scoring started, with Smith leading Raggi with a perfect pass 40 yards up the field, which Raggi slipped past Hamilton goalkeeper Jill Cook for a 1-0 lead.
Sophomore Michelle Valentine gave Cooperstown a quick 2-0 lead two minutes later on an unassisted goal, and Kayla Stockwell gave the Redskins a 3-0 lead with a beautiful high-arcing shot from 40 yards out that found the top of the net.
Hamilton tried to mount a comeback, scoring just before halftime to cut the lead to 3-1 and adding another goal early in the second half to get to within 3-2, but Valentine knocked in her ninth goal of the season to secure the win.
Valentine and Smith each have nine goals on the season to lead the team, and the Lady Redskins will get a chance to avenge one of their losses this Saturday at 11 a.m. when they host Mt. Markham. Mt. Markham won the first meeting, 1-0, in the first league game of the season.
CCS boys lose in O.T. to Hamilton
While the Cooperstown girls were finally able to defeat Hamilton, the Cooperstown boys had no such luck, losing a 2-0 overtime decision to their Center State rivals.
Despite being under almost constant pressure in the first half, the Redskins defense and goalkeeper Jim Dangl managed to keep the game scoreless, and Cooperstown just missed a chance to take the lead late in the first half.
"Overall, I was pleased with the way we played, we went into a defensive mode midway through the first half and did a good job against an offensive-minded team," Cooperstown boys soccer coach Frank Miosek said.
In the first overtime period, Hamilton's Trevor Chapman hit what Miosek described as a perfect shot over the head of Dangl to give Hamilton a 1-0 lead.
"We had to try and generate more offense after that, and that caught up to us leading to their second goal," Miosek said.
Cooperstown travels to the Davenport Tournament Saturday where they will meet undefeated South Kortright in the first round at noon.
Host Davenport meets Worcester in the other first round game, with the consolation and championship games set for Oct. 5.
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