Poland won its third straight Section Three Class D title on Saturday, while the Patriots won the first Section Four Class D title in program history with a 2-1 victory over Laurens Saturday at Oneonta’s Wright National Soccer Campus.

Poland, 17-2-3, lost to Laurens in the state quarterfinal last season, and to Chazy in the state finals in 2005.

``We do have three or four players who have been here all three years, and that experience has got to help,’’ said Poland’s 12th year head coach Craig Hurba. ``I think the younger kids all feed off of them.’’

The Patriots defeated another seasoned team on Saturday in Laurens, who lost in the state Final Four a year ago and have been dominant in both the Tri-Valley and Section Four for the past few years. CV-S used two first half goals from senior midfielder Dylan Clements and held off a furious barrage of shots in the final 10 minutes to escape with the win.

``Oh man, I knew they were going to come at us hard at the end,’’ said CV-S goalkeeper Anthony Brant. ``We were able to hang on. My defense has been great all year.’’

CV-S head coach Terri Adams said her team’s defense was the difference.

``I think they got tired in the last 10 to 15 minutes but they hung in there,’’ she said. ``But it was nerve-wracking.’’

Brant needed an assist from his defense on Laurens’ best second half scoring opportunity. He dove and deflected a shot from the Leopards’ Miguel Short, and after several players on both teams attempted to get a foot on it, CV-S’s Spencer Staley was finally able to kick the ball up field.

``I was lying on my back and I couldn’t see, but sometimes you have to rely on your defense,’’ Brant said. ``I always trust them when I come out.’’

The play of Clements, a midfielder who moved to Cherry Valley last December from New Zealand, was also huge in Saturday’s win.

``He’s an unbelievable player,’’ Brant said. ``He’s the kind of player that makes everyone around him better. I don’t think we’d be here without him.’’

``He just fit in perfectly with our team,’’ added teammate Jason Guernsey.

Clements’ physical, aggressive defense will be needed against Poland, who are a big, physical team, according to Cooperstown boys soccer coach Frank Miosek. Poland beat Cooperstown, 1-0, and tied them 2-2 in the teams’ regular season meetings.

``They’ve got three guys all over six feet in the midfield, and very good team speed,’’ Miosek said of Poland. ``They will present a big challenge to Cherry Valley, but not insurmountable.’’

The game will played on artificial turf, which will mark the first time all season the Patriots will play on the faster playing surface.

``We have played on turf during our travel league at Oneonta State and a couple of other places,’’ Adams said. ``With our speed, it may actually help us.’’