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.