ELMIRA -- Derek Hamilton's beard is still growing and that means the Elmira Free Academy boys soccer team he coaches is still winning.
The Blue Devils scored three goals in the first eight minutes -- two by sophomore Alex Varkatzas -- to defeat Owego 3-0 in a Section 4 Class A semifinal game on Friday.
"The first eight minutes we set the pace and then didn't concede," Varkatzas said.
Elmira goalie Luke Ford also made two huge saves to keep Owego (9-7) from gaining any momentum.
It's the third sectional final for EFA in five years. EFA won the title in 2006, beating Owego. In 2007, EFA lost the final to Owego.
"Owego is a class program," Hamilton said. "We knew it was going to be difficult going in."
With some aggressive play out of the box, Elmira made it look easy early on and had a 3-0 lead seven minutes and 20 seconds into the first half.
"We wanted to set the tone early, so we put a physical staple in the game," Hamilton said.
The aggressive tactic, however, led to two Elmira starters receiving yellow cards. That included Justin Munson, who scored the first goal in just under five minutes after stealing the ball from in front of the net. Soon after, Munson received his yellow card.
Dan Earley, who assisted on the third goal, was yellow-carded in the second half. If they would have received a second card they would have been excluded from the title game. Hamilton, not wanting to risk that, chose to keep them out of the rest of the game.
"With the lead we had, I felt we could afford to sit him," Hamilton said.
Elmira got its season off to a slow start, winning just two of its first eight games-- all without Ford in goal. He was recovering from a broken left leg sustained in the preseason. When Ford returned, Elmira's fortunes improved and that's when Hamilton began growing a beard.
"I told the players I wouldn't shave it off until we lost," he said. "It looks ridiculous on me but it was something for the team to rally around."
Hamilton said the team's turnaround can also be credited to moving Munson from the right forward side to the center to team up with Varkatzas. Since making the moves, Elmira has gone 6-0-1 and is now ranked 20th in New York state in Class A.
"Me and Munson have been clicking ever since we made the change," Varkatzas said.
Varkatzas scored on a penalty kick with 34 minutes remaining in the first half to make it 2-0. A minute and 20 seconds later he struck again for his 22nd goal of the season from a throw in from Earley.
"His throw got through the defense and I was able to bend it around the keeper," Varkatzas said.
"We fell into a defensive shell and that is not our game," Hamilton said.
Owego's best first-half scoring chance was stuffed by Ford, who caught a header from close range by Owego's Tyler Sticker with 18 minutes remaining. Ford then made a spectacular diving, full-prone-in-air catch of a blast by Tim Glili 12 minutes into the second half.
"I saw the angle of it coming and I just dove for it," said Ford, who made eight saves in all for the shutout.
Each team had eight shots with EFA holding a 5-4 edge in corners.
Once in the lead, strong defensive play by EFA, including senior captain Nick Lian, helped keep Owego at bay.
"We were just looking to maintain our lead," Varkatzas said. "We played gritty the rest of the game."
