Sidney’s Guerriere helps Central soccer to gold

07/31/06

Sidney’s Guerriere helps Central soccer to gold

Converts first pk in 4-3 shootout victory; S. New Berlin man wins triple jump title
2006 EMPIRE STATE GAMES
Staff Report

Sidney sophomore Mike Guerriere helped the Central scholastic men’s soccer team to a gold medal Sunday during the 2006 Empire State Games in Rochester.

Following a scoreless tie, Guerriere converted the opening penalty kick to the right side to fuel a 4-3 shootout triumph over Western.

"It was pretty sweet," Guerriere said of his first year in the Empire State Games. "This is like the best high school players around here. It was really physical and a lot of speed. This was the best week of my life."

[an error occurred while processing this directive]The two teams swapped pk conversions before Western missed wide, Guerriere said. Central scored again for a 3-1 lead, which stuck when Western flew its third shot over the crossbar. Central’s next shot was blocked, allowing Western to pull within 3-2 by converting its fourth attempt. Central then made its fifth and final shot for the victory.

Guerriere had two goals and an assist entering Sunday’s championship. He scored his second goal of the ESGs in a 1-0 victory over Adirondack on Saturday.

Guerriere, a Daily Star First Team All-Star as a freshman, scored 24 minutes in for Central, which won despite a 13-10 disadvantage in shots on goal.

Goalies John Albanese and Matt Wopperer combined on the shutout, which led Central to the gold-medal game.

"We only have three players returning for next year (at the ESGs)," Guerriere said, "but I’m definitely going to do this again. I wouldn’t miss it."

The Daily Star Weekly Photo GalleriesView and purchase local sports photos from The Daily Star
The following is a brief roundup of local results from Saturday’s competition. Results may be incomplete because of apparent transmission problems at the Empire State Games website, http://www.empirestategames.org.

To report a result from Saturday or Sunday that does not appear below, call The Daily Star sports department at 607-432-1000 after 4 p.m. today.

Basketball
Oneonta High sophomore Dan O’Brien scored six points Saturday to help the Central scholastic men’s basketball team to a 93-81 victory over Hudson Valley at RIT.

Cycling
Central’s Michelle Costello of Franklin placed sixth Saturday in the open women’s 20-mile criterium final.

Franklin resident Nick Suozzo finished 45th for Central in the open men’s 31-mile criterium final Saturday.

Rowing
Sidney resident Bruce Codington and partner Brian Watson of Watertown won the 30-39 age-group tandem event Saturday in 1:37.34.

Masters Archery
John Meeks of South New Berlin won gold in the 70-plus age-group compound fingers archery event Saturday.

Masters Swimming
Oneonta resident Verna Engstrom-Heg earned a silver and two bronzes in the age 75-79 age-group Saturday. She placed second in the 800-meter freestyle (25:54.42) and finished third in the 200 backstroke (7:45.30) and the 200 free (6:33.53).

Masters Track
Cooperstown resident Douglas Geertgens won the age 60-64 triple jump at 32 feet, 11 inches Saturday.

Geertgens also placed second in the 100-meter hurdles (19.07 seconds) and third in the 200 dash (30.09).