Robert Jeffrey

Contributor

VERONA- In a rematch of the Sherburne-Earlville Labor Day Weekend Tournament consolation game, the Red Devils of Vernon-Verona-Sherrill yet again proved to be a tough test. Despite the evenly matched contest between the two clubs, the hometown Red Devils claimed the 1-0 victory.

The hard fought match might’ve lacked offense, but make no mistake about it the defensive grit and grind was the true spectacle that was on display. With a total of 26 shots on goal between the two clubs, and with VVS goalie Matthew Piazza claiming seven saves and S-E’s goaltender Conor Ryan saving eight shots, offense was set at a premium. With both teams locked in a stalemate, VVS’ Samuel Donnelly gave the Red Devils their only goal of the game. With the loose soccer ball emerging its way out of the Marauder-Red Devil scrum that ensued following a VVS corner kick, Donnelly took his chance by gathering the ball before delivering a missile into the S-E goal.

With the Marauders facing the 1-0 deficit late in the game, the determined Sherburne-Earlville club nearly forced the game into overtime. S-E’s Ed Geier placed with the opportunity to knot the game up at one apiece in the contest’s final moment. Geier’s shot hit the bottom of the crossbar, taking a hard bounce off the turf. If not for the quick cat like reflexes of VVS goalkeeper Matthew Piazza, the Marauders most certainly would have been headed for overtime.