Girls’ Soccer
Oxford 1, Marathon 0
MARATHON – The lowest seed in the Section IV, Class C tournament is alive and still kicking – the soccer ball that is.
Oxford advanced to the sectional semifinals for the first time in the school’s history nipping number two seed Marathon Friday. It was the fourth straight win and fifth in six games for the Blackhawks (7-12), who are showing the promise their coach predicted in the preseason. “We were struggling for wins early in the season, but we’ve hit our stride at the right time,” said Oxford coach Kathleen Cragle. “We were underdogs against Delhi and extreme underdogs against Marathon. No one expected us to win, and maybe we used that to our advantage.”
Two one-touch passes led to the game’s only goal. Courtney Flanagan gathered the ball at midfield, passed to Felicia Tynan, and Tynan found Amanda Brown for the first-half tally at 25:32. It was Brown’s 11th goal of the season and believed to be a single-season team-record, Cragle said.
Amanda Nightengale made 13 saves, and Ariel Salisbury was credited on defense by Cragle for clearing a couple of balls off the goal line that would have tied the contest. “Being the only team left in our league (Midstate Athletic Conference) that is still playing is huge,” Cragle said. “It’s definitely a Cinderella story, and I hope it keeps going.”
Oxford plays Union Springs Tuesday.
Summary
(1-0 at half)
Goals-assists: (O) Amanda Brown 1-0, Felicia Tynan, 0-1, Courtney Flanagan, 0-1
Shots-corners: (M) 13-5, (O) 3-1.
Saves: (M) Cara Casorio, 2, (O) Amanda Nightengale, 13
Union Springs 1, Unadilla Valley 0
UNION SPRINGS – Union Springs scored the lone goal of the game midway through the first half in an evenly-played Class C playoff game Friday.
Amanda Cuss headed in a crossing pass from Alyssa Dean for the game-winner.
UV matched Union Springs shot for shot, and played without three starters. “It was well-played by both teams and a tough loss,” said UV coach Chris Bieniek. “We gave it a great try and it was a good season for us.”
Summary
(1-0 at half)
Goals-assists: Amanda Cuss, 1-0, Alyssa Dean, 0-1
Shots-corners: (UV) 9-6, (US) 9-3.
Saves: (UV) Cara Collins, 7, (US) Devan Gary, 7.
Boys’ Soccer
Otselic Valley 1, Cincinnatus 0
CINCINNATUS – Otselic Valley continued its postseason run and is the last Chenango County boys team still playing after knocking off higher-seeded Cincinnatus in the Section III, Class D playoffs.
Taylor Duell came from his keeper position to drill in a penalty kick at 13:35 of the first half for the game’s lone tally. “They controlled much of the game and many more opportunities to score,” said OV coach Dave Loomis. “But soccer is soccer. We had two or three good chances, one of which led to a penalty kick. Taylor put that in and the goal held up.”
