Andes Battles Laurens Loses in Shootout

Andes outplayed Laurens in the sectional matchup today in Delhi. The Mountaineers lone goal in regulation came from a pass from James Litaker to Peter Fabrykiewicz midway through the first half. Laurens evened the score just before half. The teams played even scorewise through the remainder of the game and 2 overtimes but Andes on balance controlled the ball but lost in the pk shootout at the end. The Andes soccer season comes to a close with a remarkable record of 10-3-1. Thank you Mountaineers for a wonderful ride. Coaches Adam Van Valkenburg, Eddie Bacon, and Mike Terry thank you for a job well done!

Margaretville Stops Andes 3-0

With Delaware Title Hopes Derailed, Andes Prepares For Playoffs
By John Bernhardt

Saturday’s, 3-0, defeat in Margaretville ended the Andes boys’ soccer teams quest for the Delaware League’s Mountain Division title. The final game of all regular season Delaware League contests, broke the log jam between Andes and South Kortright on top of the Mountain Division, giving the Rams the crown. For Andes, the next week will be a chance to catch their breath, nurse the many bangs and bruises that come with a long soccer campaign, and prepare for battle in the Section IV playoffs. The Mountaineers should receive an excellent seed in the upcoming tournament and could be positioned as high as the fourth seed in tournament brackets.

Saturday, the Mountaineers proved they have the stuff to contend for the Section IV title. News that all-star goalie Josh Bonifacic could not play is Saturday’s pivotal contest, would have emotionally devastated many teams. Not Andes. With Nate Tuck filling in admirably for Bonifacic in the goal, the Mountaineers mounted a steely challenge. Andes played more than evenly throughout the first half with New York State’s undefeated third ranked Blue Devils, battling Margaretville to a scoreless tie.

In fact, the Mountaineers logged the best scoring opportunities in the early going. Late in the half, Andes high scoring forward, Peter Fabrykiewicz turned on a feed some fifteen yards in front of the goal, and skidded a shot toward the left corner of the goal. Margaretville goalie, Brian Faulkner, made an impressive save using a full extension dive to knock the ball away. Minutes later, Fabrykiewicz lofted a well-placed cross toward the Andes goal. James Littaker was positioned perfectly at the far pole, but could not get a piece of the carry, as a second promising scoring chance was lost.

Margaretville began to win the battle for the middle of the field in the second half. With the Blue Devils mounting a furious offensive onslaught, Nate Tuck made a valiant stand defending the goal, turning away several potential scores with heart-stopping saves. Finally, with eleven minutes gone, in the final half, the Blue Devils struck gold. Tyler Smith directed a through ball from the right hand side of the field finding Abraham Morales in front of the goal. The forward smashed a sizzling shot that deflected off Tuck’s hands for the score.

Eight minutes later, Margaretville hit pay dirt again, this time on a shot that deflected off an Andes defender’s shoulder and into the goal. It was Morales who assisted Javier Martinez for the scoring tally.
Margaretville’s final goal came with the clock winding down and less than a minute to play. Cody Fronckowiak was credited with the final goal.

Andes finished the regular season with a 10-2-1 record. The Mountaineers finished 7-2-1 in the Delaware League. Last week, Andes broke into the State rankings as the #19 team in Class D in New York State.

As they prepare for the post season, Andes should examine their own history. A late season hit streak a dozen years ago, propelled a seventh seeded Mountaineer team to a Section IV, Class D soccer title. As that Andes team proved, ‘it’s a whole new season in the playoffs.’

Andes Shovels Roxbury 6-0

Andes, In the coldest snowyist day of the soccer season to date the Andes Boys Soccer Team shut out the Roxbury Rockets 6 to 0. Pete Fabrykiewicz contributed a season high of 4 goals, Ben Houshmand scored his first goal of the season as did Justin Mohr on a PK. Nate Tuch filled in for an injured Bono in goal and was perfect as he posted a shutout. The defense led by Cody Ruff, Russell Koronowski, and Justin Mohr were brillant on a slippery field, and Eric Reed and Corey Barrett dominated the midfield play. Ian Wright got the "Bling". It's all on the line as the Mountaineers face the lead leading Margaretville Blue Devils on Saturday at 11am in Margaretville.

Koronowski Scores! Andes 9 Downsville 0

A 4 year drought was ended yesterday as Russell Koronowski scored his first varsity goal ever before a soggy home crowd yesterday. In addition Andes entire front line scored 2 goals each (Eric Reed, Corey Barret, Eddie Mackay and Pete Fabrykiewicz) in leading the Mountaineers to a conviencing 9-0 win over their arch rivals Downsville. Bono and Nate Tuch were perfect in goal as Andes defense remained imprentable.

Andes 2 Windham 1

What was supposed to be a blowout of a younger Windham team turned into an exciting game as the Windham Goalie Steve (not sure of his last name) rose to the challenge and denied the Andes scoring machine. Eddie Mackay and Corey Barret provided the scoring for the Mountaineers. Peter Fabrykiewicz had an assist.

Andes, South Kortright Deadlock 1-1 in Double Overtime

Andes/SK Battle to Standoff
Contributed By John Bernardt
Conventional wisdom says that in sporting events no one goes home happy when two teams play to a tie. That was not the case in South Kortright yesterday when the first place Rams held on to salvage a 1-1 tie against Andes. SK had to breathe a sigh of relief when the final horn sounded after the second overtime period with the score still deadlocked at ones. As the regular season winds down, the tie allows the Rams to maintain their one game advantage over the surging Mountaineers. SK stands 6-0-1 in Delaware League play with Andes close behind at 6-1-1.

The contest lived up to the championship hype with both teams well matched and bringing their A games. In fact, statistically, in the first half, SK and Andes looked like mirror images. Both teams took 11 shots on goal and had 2 corner kicks. Strong defensive play and superb play in the goals was a trademark on both sides of the field.

South Kortight almost caught Andes off-guard in the opening minutes of play. Within the first minute, Cody Burns had drilled a rocket just wide, left of the goal, and Dillon Cole had maneuvered for a headshot close to the SK nets.

After Sage Beemer lifted Andes first shot on goal over 3 minutes into the contest, Andes settled in. With Corey Barrett playing spectacular ball in the midfield and James Littaker having his best game of the season, Andes mounted several threats. Andes high scoring forward, Peter Fabyrkiewicz turned on several shots, and Eric Reed lofted two well placed strikes toward the nets, but SK goalie Charlie Darling used his tall frame expertly, stretching high to grab the ball out of the air over his head to make the saves.

SK did control the ball through a large section of the early minutes in the second half. The Rams kept the ball boxed in their offensive end exerting continual pressure but few promising scoring chances.
SK caught a break with the clock reading under twenty minutes to play in regulation time. A long volley toward the goal was bobbled by the Andes tender with the ball bounding back into play setting off a mad scramble. With SK forwards and Andes defensive men clawing for the ball a scrum took shape just in side the goalies box. Andes was called for a trip, and senior Tanner Metzko nailed the penalty kick to give SK their only score of the game.

Four minutes later, it looked like Andes might be awarded a penalty chance of their own. A Barrett to Fabrykiewicz through ball found the areas leading scorer driving toward the goal with a one step lead on two defenders. The Ram defenders caught Fabrykiewicz from behind, sandwiching and flattening the Andes striker, but no whistle sounded.

Barrett later used skill and finesse to win a ball in the midfield and carry it nearly 45 yards before his shot deflected off the left pole. Andes finally nabbed the tying strike with just over five minutes to play. Eric Reed intercepted a volley from a Ram defender and chipped a pass to Fabrykiewicz with room on the right wing. The explosive forward dribble twice and ripped a sizzling strike into the far corner of the Andes goal.

Both teams launched last second scoring scares, SK’s coming at the end of regulation time, and Andes in the closing seconds of the first overtime. SK’s Darling and Andes Josh Bonifacic met the challenges.

The teams played evenly throughout the extra periods with both teams taking four shots on goal and each trying one corner kick.

Although the tie tilts the Mountain Division chase in SK’s direction, the title chase is far from over. Both teams still need to battle Upper Division leader Margaretville. Andes finishes their regular season October 17 in Margaretville.

Oneonta Soccer Club Tryout October 18th

OSC to hold travel tryouts

The Oneonta Soccer Club will hold travel soccer tryouts for the 2010 season starting at 10 a.m. Oct. 18 at the National Soccer Hall of Fame fields.

The tryout schedule is as follows: 10 a.m.-noon, U10 and U12 boys and girls; 1:30-3:30 p.m., U14, U16 and U19 boys and girls.

Age-group eligibility is based on the following: U10 born after July 31, 1999; U12 born after July 31, 1997; U14 born after July 31, 1995; U16 born after July 31, 1993; U19 born after July 31, 1990.

There is no cost to try out, but players should wear shin guards and soccer cleats. Registration is $120 for those selected to teams.

For more information, call OSC president Mike Maben at 607-432-6482 607-432-6482 ot visit the website www.oneontasoccerclub.org.

Taking Care of Business Andes (5) Jefferson (2)

Andes Boys Soccer Team Taking Care of Business
Contributed by John Bernhardt

In 1973 Backman-Turner Overdrive’s hit single “Taking Care of Business” raced toward the top of the music charts. Thirty-three years, the Andes Boys Soccer team adopted that theme as they upended Jefferson, 5-2, Thursday, racing toward the top of the Delaware League’s Mountain Division and setting up a first place showdown, Monday, October 6, in South Kortright.

With a potential Mountain Division championship battle looming, perhaps the Mountaineers got caught looking ahead early in Thursday’s game with Jefferson. Andes pounded the JayHawks goal in the early going but could not finish. Meanwhile, Jacob Pasa took advantage of one of the few opportunities Jefferson would have in the half, finding the nets with 14:57 to play in the half. Pasa’s goal stood to the intermission giving the visitor’s a 1-0 lead.

Things got sticky for Andes when Pasa zeroed in on the nets again early in the final half. Less than three minutes into the half, Pasa settled a pass from Eddie Chase to bury his second strike of the afternoon putting Jefferson in front, 2-0.

That’s when the Mountaineer’s got down to business. Shortly after the second Pasa score, Andes senior midfielder Corey Barrett shook things up, stealing a JayHawk pass and chipping an 18 yard shot into the goal.

Later in the half over a seven minutes span, the game belonged to Andes junior striker Peter Fabrykiewicz. Andes tied the score at 29:08 to play when Fabrykiewicz split two JayHawk defenders to find the nets. Four minutes later, it was aggressive play toward the goal that positioned Fabrykiewicz to break the tie. When Eric Reed’s shot was deflected off the goalie, Fabrykiewicz rebounded the carom into the nets for a score. Three minutes later, Fabrykiewicz was at it again, this time heading an accurate cross from sophomore Eddie Mackay for the score.

Fabrykiewicz is receiving terrific support from his teammates at the offensive end this season. The highly skilled junior has used taken advantage of the opportunities scoring 18 goals to lead area scorers.

As time wound down, Eric Reed lofted a nifty shot from 17 yards deep over the Jefferson goalie’s head to close the scoring, with Andes winning 5-2.

The win sets up Monday’s showdown with undefeated South Kortright. SK is a perfect 9-0 on the season one game ahead of the Mountaineers.