Published: October 02, 2008 04:19 pm         

Coop boys improve to 8-2-1 with 1-0 victory

By ERIC AHLQVIST
Cooperstown Crier

The Cooperstown soccer team’s 1-0 victory over Waterville Monday was representative of their season as a whole.

Of the Redskins eight wins this season, seven have come via a shutout without much room to spare. But with an 8-2-1 record heading into today’s (Thursday’s) game at Sherburne-Earlville, head coach Frank Miosek is not complaining about the lack of offense. ``I’m ecstatic,’’ Miosek said after Monday’s win. ``We lost nine starters from last year and have a whole new defense. We’ve been very defensive-minded this year, and the goals are not as forthcoming as last season. We’ve got room to improve and I think we will on the offensive end.’’

Jake Chase scored the winning goal against Waterville in the first half, converting a penalty kick after teammate Matt Pink was pulled down from behind about eight yards from the goal. The Redskins tied South Kortright, 1-1, in the first round of the Davenport Tournament on Saturday.

The game will officially go down as a tie, but the Rams advanced after winning a penalty kick shootout.

``That was a very good game,’’ Miosek said. ``South Kortright is bigger and more physical than us, and I thought our sweeper back Brandon Lane played a fabulous game. Both teams represented themselves well.’’

The Redskins are 5-1 in Center State Conference play, and trail undefeated Mt. Markham by one game.

The Mustangs handed Cooperstown their only league loss, and the teams meet again in Cooperstown next Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

``We have two other games before that one so we can’t get ahead of ourselves,’’ Miosek said. ``That will be a big game but we’ve also got to look at the big picture and get ready for sectionals.’’

The Redskins play Worcester in the consolation round of the Davenport Tournament on Saturday at 10 p.m.

CCS girls tied for first Emma Ryanmiller scored two goals as the Cooperstown girls soccer team defeated Waterville in a key Center State Conference game last Wednesday, but was injured in a 2-1 loss to Herkimer Friday.

Without Ryanmiller, Cooperstown traveled to play undefeated Edmeston in a non-league contest Saturday and lost, 7-1.

Eryn Bass scored the only goal in that game, while Laura Rowley scored an unassisted goal against Herkimer.

``We had several chances to score against Herkimer, but couldn’t put it in the net,’’ said CCS head coach Jennifer Pindar. Ryanmiller missed the first six games of the season with a knee injury, and since returning has scored in every game but one for the 7-6 Lady Redskins.

Ryanmiller returned Tuesday and scored another goal in a 5-0 home win over Frankfort, her seventh of the season.

Cooperstown is 4-1 in league play, good for a three-way tie with Sauquoit and Sherburne. CCS plays at Sauquoit on Monday and host S-E on Friday, Oct. 10. They will host Canastota today (Thursday).