The young and the restless

"We're much more mature than we were last year," said Milford coach Lorin Campbell, whose team is looking to beat Edmeston in the Tri-Valley League final for the third consecutive season. The two teams start a boys and girls championship quadrupleheader, which also features the Delaware League, at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Wright National Soccer Campus in Oneonta. Admission is $5 and covers all four games.

"They're not little girls anymore, they're young ladies," he continued. "I like to keep them young as long as I can because they have fewer outside interests and fewer distractions."

Campbell can only control so much, though.

In a year-and-a-half, Milford (14-1-2) will graduate junior Brenna Campbell and classmate Maria Arnot, who combined for 63 goals last season and lead the team in scoring again this year. Campbell has 29 goals this season _ two more than she had last fall _ and 16 assists. The latter is down four from a season ago, but that could be related to a knee injury that took Arnot out of a 1-0 quadruple-overtime loss to South Kortright in a 2005 Section Four Class D semifinal.

"As the season's gone on, she's picked up," Lorin Campbell said of Arnot, who had 36 goals in 2005 _ 17 more than this season so far. Arnot played much of 2006 with a bulky brace on her left knee that slowed her cuts and hindered her ability to beat defenders off the dribble. Campbell said Arnot recently removed the brace and seems close to a full recovery.

Arnot and Brenna Campbell are as potent a scoring duo as any in Section Four girls soccer, but Edmeston coach Melanie Mumbulo stayed the course in focusing on her team instead of someone else's.

"You've got to make sure your kids are ready to play, can shut down a longer shot and get on the rebounds," said Mumbulo, revealing part of the gameplan to challenge the Wildcats in their sweet spot along the 18-yard line. "We're not so worried about them; we're just going to take care of us."

Mumbulo said 16 of her players have had a goal, an assist or both for the second straight season. Senior forward Amanda Dockstader leads the Panthers (12-3-1) with 21 goals and seven assists and is followed by a trio of underclassmen. Freshman forward Kori Hamm (7 goals, 7 assists), and sophomores Emily Slentz (6-4) and Amanda Belden (4-4) are also capable of jump-starting Edmeston on Saturday.

Belden converted a pass from Dockstader against Milford in a 2-1 regular-season loss Sept. 15. Arnot and Campbell scored for the Wildcats (14-1-2).

"The first time we played them, we marked Dockstader because she's their goal-scorer," said Lorin Campbell, whose team has won five straight against Edmeston. "Belden was out and subbed in very quickly. She scored before we even organized ourselves."

Milford's only league loss came Oct. 4 against Cherry Valley-Springfield, 1-0. The Patriots are also responsible for Edmeston's other T-V loss, beating the Panthers, 2-1 in overtime.

"Our side of the league is very tough this year," said Campbell, whose team finished atop the East Division, which also is home to CV-S, Schenevus and Worcester. "If you don't come with your A' game, the majority of teams in the Tri-Valley this year can knock you off. ... This game Saturday, you don't come with your A' game, you don't come away with the banner."

Both teams have strong defenses that patrol solid goaltenders. Mumbulo said sophomore keeper Suellyn Tophoven is likely to start, but freshman Susanna Johnson is an understudy who continues to contribute significant minutes.

Senior sweeper Corinne Ketzlick and junior stopper Morgan Dutcher have helped lighten the workload for junior goalie Chynna Pitlock. The Wildcats have allowed eight goals this season, five fewer than it allowed during the 2005 regular season.

"For my kids, every game's important," Mumbulo said. "It makes no difference who we play _ we hate to lose."

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Dean Russin can be reached at drussin@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 215.