By Jeff Vella
Staff Writer

ONEONTA — With Saturday's Tri-Valley League boys soccer championship tied at 1 in the second half, Laurens forward Mike Robbins approached coach Dave Miller on the sideline.

"What are we doing wrong?" asked Robbins, who was getting a breather. "We're not having fun anymore. What do I have to do?"

"You're one of the seniors," Miller responded. "Somebody's got to get in there and make something happen."

Like a soldier obeying an order, Robbins did exactly that, scoring two goals in 41 seconds late in the half to lead reigning Class D sectional champion Laurens to a 3-1 victory over Milford at the Wright National Soccer Campus.

"It's just wonderful to have a kid respond like that," Miller said. "He just decided he had to do it."

Robbins' first goal came with 10 minutes, 37 seconds left. Marcus Bailey took a free kick from the left side that drifted across the goal mouth. Shane Marsh made a diving head pass to Robbins, who simply shoved the ball into the net.

"That was a great play by Shane," Robbins said. "I was just in the right place at the right time."

Robbins was the recipient of more great passing on his second goal.

Dan Sheesley picked up the ball near midfield and sprinted down the right wing. When a defender came at him, he unloaded to Kyle Greiner in the middle. Greiner had an open shot, but passed off to Robbins, who calmly put the ball in from 15 yards away.

The title is the second straight for Laurens, but Miller said this one is more satisfying.

"Last year, everything revolved around (graduated Daily Star Player of the Year) Jon Cook, but this year, everyone has had to chip in," Miller said. "I challenged everyone at the beginning of the year to show what kind of team they are and that they weren't just along for the ride last year."

Laurens received several scares on Saturday as Milford opened the scoring 5:23 in when Ryan Campbell headed in a perfect cross from Taylor Schleup.

Laurens came back three minutes later on a goal by Greiner. Marsh again started the play as he weaved through the Milford defense and let a shot go from the 18. The ball was partially blocked, but it came right to Greiner, who tapped it in from 10 yards away.

Milford, which lost, 2-1, to Laurens earlier this year, appeared satisfied to play for a draw and didn't look to attack much the rest of the game. The Wildcats defense was extremely cautious of Laurens' speedy forwards and midfielders — maybe a little too cautious, according to coach Frank Spurchise.

"What happened many times is that we didn't step to the ball because we thought we were going to get beat, and that's the worse thing you can do is make no decision at all," Spurchise said. "You're better off putting pressure on them and letting them make the mistakes. We were just too hesitant.

"I don't play the game to tie and I'm afraid my kids thought maybe that's what we wanted to do. But (Laurens) certainly was the better team."

Laurens outshot Milford, 22-6, and if it weren't for goalie Loren Sutton's 14 saves, the game could have turned into a rout in the early going.

"Oh my Lord, that's the best game he's had all year," Spurchise said. "We could have been pummeled. He hasn't really been challenged a lot this year, but he seems to get himself up for the big games. I don't have enough adjectives for how well he played today."

Just before Robbins' two goals, Milford celebrated after it appeared Will Laible and several teammates jammed the ball in for the go-ahead goal.

However, the referee said the ball never crossed the line and called a penalty on Milford for kicking the goalie while he had possession of the ball.

Laurens responded to the close call with two dangerous rushes before Robbins finally broke the game open.

Top-seeded Laurens (14-0-1) has a first-round bye in the Class D sectionals and plays host to the winner of Wednesday's South Kortright-Downsville game on Saturday.

Fourth-seeded Milford (12-5-1) plays host to 13th-seeded Franklin (6-9) on Wednesday. The Wildcats beat Franklin, 7-0, and 7-2, in the regular season.

LAURENS 3, MILFORD 1

Laurens 1 2 — 3

Milford (12-5-1): Ryan Campbell 1-0, Taylor Schleup 0-1.

Laurens (14-0-1): Mike Robbins 2-0, Kyle Greiner 1-1, Shane Marsh 0-2.

Shots-corner kicks: Milford 6-3, Laurens 22-10.

Goalies: Loren Sutton (M) 14, Brandon Falsetta (L) 3.