Unbeaten Laurens to meet CV-S

So when they meet at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Wright National Soccer Campus to decide the Tri-Valley League championship, ball possession could be the deciding factor.

"We look to play the same short passing game," second-year CV-S coach Terri Adams said. "It's going to come down to who can stay in their short passing game and who can mark tightly."

Perhaps the biggest difference between the teams is experience. Laurens (12-0-1, 10-0) is making its second straight appearance in the T-V title game, having lost to Milford in the final last year, 3-1.

The Patriots (12-2-2, 7-1-2) are coming off an 8-8-1 season a year ago and have never won a crossover championship. The last time CV-S won the East Division title came in 1990, two years before the Tri-Valley League started playing crossover championships.

"I think it's going to help us to have that big-game experience," said Laurens coach Dave Miller, whose team defeated CV-S, 3-1, during the regular season. "They know what it takes to win in big-game situations at that level."

Patriots junior Jason Guernsey might receive extra attention Saturday. He leads CV-S with 19 goals and 15 assists this season.

"He's the key to their offense," Miller said of Guernsey. "We tried to key on him the first time and we were able to do that. A lot of the offense goes through him."

Jeremy Hoag has 11 goals, and Ian Hull has six for the Patriots.

"We have quite a number of kids who contribute offensively as well as defensively," Adams said. "We also have several players who can play two or three positions."

The Leopards, looking for their first league title since beating Franklin, 4-0, in the 2002 final, appear even more diversified on offense.

Adam Mish has a team-leading 11 goals, Miguel Short has nine, Carter Bailey eight and Jesse Campbell seven.

"I wouldn't want to defend us," Miller said. "I wouldn't want to defend against any team that has talent like (ours). We have a varied attack and different people who can score."

Laurens also has an experienced defenders in seniors James Warren, Mike Coryat and Casey Townsend.

The Patriots counter with a defense that has shut out eight of its 16 opponents this season.

"They have a nice balance," Miller said of the Patriots. "They have more talent than they've had in the past at the varsity level at a number of positions. They're strong defensively, too."

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Rob Centorani can be reached at rcentorani@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 209.