Staff Report

The sectional semifinals must have seemed a long ways off for a Downsville boys soccer squad that started this season 0-4.

But thanks to an overtime goal from Stephen Davis, the 10th-seeded Eagles are headed to the Section Four Class D semifinals after a 1-0 victory over No. 2 Odessa-Montour on Friday at B.C. United Fields in Endicott.

"It’s a really big win," said Davis, whose 16-yard shot from the left wing and went over the head of Indians goalie Mike Neumine and inside the far post in the first 10-minute overtime. "It’s my senior year and I didn’t want to lose."

Laurens’ Russell Weidler, center, and Milford’s Mike Krol fall to the ground after colliding in the first half of Friday’s Section Four Class D quarterfinal at Laurens. Milford’s Matt Seeley closes in from the left on the play, which resulted in no foul. Laurens won, 1-0, in double-overtime.

All overtimes in the sectional boys soccer tournaments are sudden-death this season, so Davis’ goal ended it.

"I was dribbling down the left side and saw the goalie came out," Davis said. "I was going to cross it, but when I saw him come out, I decided to chip it up in the air."

The Eagles (12-7), who knocked off seventh-seeded and defending Class D sectional champion Edmeston, 1-0, in the first round, play at third-seeded Laurens (15-0-1) on Tuesday.

Downsville had a 17-12 advantage in shots Friday.

"It was going back-and-forth in overtime, and you just knew one shot was to going to go in," said O-M coach Dirk Stephens, whose team finished 11-5-1. "My hat’s off to them. They had some kids who played very well."

Eagles coach Scott Reed said the reason his team started slowly was because seven players graduated from last season’s 15-4-1 team.[an error occurred while processing this directive]

"It was a big, giant, new puzzle to put together," he said. "Today was my fifth different formation."

Said Davis: "I knew we had a good team from the start. Once coach found the right formation, we started to play as a unit."

Downsville 1, O-M 0

SECTION FOUR CLASS D QUARTERFINAL

at B.C. United Fields

Downsville 0 0 1 _ 1

Odessa-Montour 0 0 0 _ 0

10-Downsville (12-7): Stephen Davis 1-0.

2-Odessa-Montour (11-5-1): None.

Shots-corner kicks: D 17-2; O 13-0.

Goalies: Michael Lawrence (D) 10; Mike Neumine (O) 7.

Davenport 1, Margaretville 0, OT

Dan Toombs’ goal with 1:22 left in the second overtime allowed top-seeded host Davenport to advance to the Class D semifinals with a win over ninth-seeded Margaretville.

Toombs’ shot from near the right baseline deflected off a Margaretville defender into the net.

"It was a sigh of relief," Davenport coach Jenn Henderson said. "I thought it was coming. That’s how we were playing and it seemed a matter of time. It was an unlucky goal for Margaretville to give up, but I think we should have had one with the way we were playing."

Davenport (18-1) plays No. 4 South Kortright in a semifinal Tuesday at the Wright National Soccer Campus. The semifinal will be a rematch of the Delaware League crossover championship, won by the Rams, 1-0.

"To Margaretville’s credit, it played a great game," said Henderson, whose team held a 19-9 advantage in shots Friday. "It was a competitive game. I thought my guys controlled the ball, but we struggled with finishing."

Shane Delameter made 12 saves for Margaretville (10-5-3).

Brandon Cuddy made eight saves for Davenport, which is 1-1 against SK this season. The Wildcats defeated the Rams, 4-2, during the regular season.

Davenport 1, Margaretville 0

SECTION FOUR CLASS D QUARTERFINAL

Margaretville 0 0 0 0 _ 0

Davenport 0 0 0 1 _ 1

9-Margaretville (10-5-3): None.

1-Davenport (18-1): Dan Toombs 1-0.

Shots-corner kicks: M 9-1; D 19-12.

Goalies: Shane Delameter (M) 12; Brandon Cuddy (D) 8.

SK 3, CV-S 2

Kyle Hotaling snapped a 2-all tie by scoring with 19 minutes left to lift No. 4 South Kortright to a Section Four Class D quarterfinal victory at home.

Hotaling, a defender, was up for a free kick and scored off a rebound.

Fifth-seeded Cherry Valley-Springfield (13-4-2), which trailed, 2-0, at halftime, rallied with goals from Jeremy Hoag and Jason Guernsey in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

"They put a lot of pressure on us," South Kortright coach Bob VanValkenburgh said. "The first half, I thought we controlled. It was a game of who got the one break and it could have gone either way. I give CV-S credit for coming back from two down. Our kids stayed in there and regrouped after CV-S tied it. It was a good ballgame."

Justin Townsend had a goal and an assist in the first half. Adam Burns also scored for the Delaware League champion Rams (15-2-2), who play top-seeded Davenport at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Wright National Soccer Campus in Oneonta.

SK 3, CV-S 2

SECTION FOUR CLASS D QUARTERFINAL

Cherry Valley-Springfield 0 2 _ 2

South Kortright 2 1 _ 3

5-Cherry Valley-Springfield (13-4-2): Jeremy Hoag 1-0, Jason Guernsey 1-0, Mike Cagganello 0-1.

4-South Kortright (15-2-2): Justin Townsend 1-1, Adam Burns 1-0, Kyle Hotaling 1-0.

Shots-corner kicks: C 7-1; S 12-5.

Goalies: Mathias VanDerwerker (C) 12; Garrett Rockefeller (S) 5.

Laurens 1, Milford 0 (2OT)

Jesse Campbell scored 45 seconds into the second sudden-death overtime, and goalie Aaron Laing earned his 10th shutout for Tri-Valley League champion Laurens (14-0-1) in a Section Four Class D quarterfinal win at home.

"We were stringing some passes together finally," said Laurens coach Dave Miller, whose third-seeded Leopards (14-0-1) will host No. 10 Downsville (12-7) at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Wright National Soccer Campus in Oneonta.

Nate Makley worked the middle and found Campbell open on the right side, setting up the winner from 22 yards out. Campbell scored into the right half of the net, giving Laurens a two-game sweep of the 11th-seeded Wildcats (7-10-2) this season.

"They were a much stronger team this time," said Miller, whose team beat Milford, 5-3, to open the 2006 season. (Milford coach Frank Spurchise) did a great job with that team."

Miller credited the senior trio of stopper James Warren, sweeper Casey Townsend and fullback Mike Coryat in helping the Leopards to their sixth consecutive shutout. Laurens has not allowed a goal since Sept. 28, when it beat Edmeston, 3-2, in the Tri-Valley League.

Laing made three saves to remain undefeated this season for the Leopards, who held a 15-5 advantage in shots. The Wildcats held an 8-1 edge in corner kicks.

"I’m just pretty happy we’re one of the final four," said Miller, who has yet to face Downsville and head coach Scott Reed this season. "I have to do some research now. I know they’re well-coached. They’re always a strong team, so it’s not too surprising that they’re here, too."

Laurens 1, Milford 0 (2OT)

SECTION FOUR CLASS D QUARTERFINAL

Milford 0 0 0 0 _ 0

Laurens 0 0 0 1 _ 1

11-Milford (7-10-2): None.

3-Laurens (14-0-1): Jesse Campbell 1-0, Nate Makley 0-1.

Shots-corner kicks: M 5-8; L 15-1.

Goalies: Sean Huffstickler (M) 11; Aaron Laing (L) 3.