But Saturday’s 11 a.m. game in Cooperstown between the Milford and Cooperstown girls soccer teams is different.

Both teams won sectional titles last year _ Milford the Section Four Class D title and Cooperstown a second consecutive Section Three Class C championship _ and can rightfully claim to be two of the better teams in the state. Both lost in state quarterfinal games in Chittenango last November and both return most of their starters from last year.

Round one of the rivalry was played last October in Milford, with the teams battling to a 1-1 tie in an intense game, so it’s almost like this year’s game is a carry over from the first one. Milford’s Maria Arnot scored the Lady Wildcats’ lone goal, while Cooperstown’s Anna Kieler tied the score in the second half. Both girls are back for their senior seasons, and both have been scoring goals in bunches this season.

Milford enters the game undefeated, fresh off a 9-0 pasting of Tri-Valley rival Cherry Valley-Springfield on Tuesday, and a championship in the Hall of Fame Cup at the Oneonta Soccer Hall of Fame last weekend.

The Lady Wildcats pummeled both Hamilton and New Lebanon in the Hall Cup, and have been scoring goals in bunches through their first five games. Arnot and fellow senior Brenna Campbell combined to score all 12 goals in the two wins over the weekend. Arnot added three more against CV-S, while junior Emily Brigham added a career-high four goals. Brenna Campbell elads the team with 15 goals and 8 assists, while Arnot has 11 goals and seven assists.

``We’re playing well, but we can play better,’’ said Milford head coach Lorin Campbell. ``We were very ready for Cherry Valley, and it showed. That’s the way we want to approach every game. I demand a lot from the girls and I don’t think they’d have it any other way.’’

Cooperstown defeated Center State Conference foe Mt. Markham at home Tuesday, 5-1, to improve to 3-1 on the season. CCS also won at Sherburne, 4-0 last Thursday, with Kieler scoring on headers in both halves and Laura Rowley adding a goal and an assist. Kieler scored the first three goals against Markham, and has eight in the first four games.

``We are excited and are looking forward to playing Milford,’’ said Cooperstown head coach Jennifer Pindar. ``Both are very good teams and both had successful seasons last year. It looks like both teams will have successful seasons again this year. It should be a great game.’’

Said Campbell: ``We’re looking forward to playing Cooperstown because we know they’re good and we’ll only get better by playing them.’’

{"CC Byline"/}CV-S-Laurens boys

to meet Monday

{"CC Body Text"/}In another great early season match-up, the Laurens boys soccer team travels to Cherry Valley on Monday in what will most likely be a preview of the Tri-Valley Championship game next month.

Both teams are undefeated, and both have been dispensing opponents with ease in the early going. Laurens beat the Patriots in last year’s title game, but CV-S seems to be much improved over last year and have been averaging about seven goals a game.

On Tuesday, the Patriots beat Milford, 2-0, their lowest scoring output of the season. They are now 6-0 on the season and play at Worcester Friday.

``We were a little nervous before the game and we had some opportunites to score we didn’t cash in on,’’ said CV-S head coach Terri Adams. ``I think we’re all looking forward to playing Laurens. We know we have to be at our best, and we’re expecting a battle.’’

In addition to the T-V Championship, Laurens also won a Section Four Class D crown a year ago and lost in the state Final Four in a sudden death penalty kick shootout.

Laurens improved to 4-0 with a 5-0 win over Morris on Tuesday.