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.’