Announcement
www.stargazette.com - 8:32 PM, Sep. 8, 2011
by Joe Mink
ELMIRA -- Horseheads stepped up its game Thursday, defeating Elmira 3-0 in Southern Tier Athletic Conference West boys soccer Thursday at Marty Harrigan Athletic Field on the Elmira Free Academy campus.
The Blue Raiders, the defending STAC West champions, improved to 2-1.
"We've worked on making quicker decisions with the ball on our foot," Horseheads coach Curt Grottenthaler said. "Today, we played with a purpose"
Benjamin Morse broke a scoreless tie with 7 minutes, 58 seconds left in the first half when he rushed up the left side and beat Elmira goalie Corey Swarthout. Jonathan Szewczyk had the assist.
Yan Silva, who came close to scoring early in the game on a rush to the net, gave Horseheads a 2-0 lead about six minutes into the second half when he broke up the middle, took a pass from Aaron Zelko, and slipped a slow roller into the net.
Matthew Eisner outran the Elmira defense going up the left side and drilled a shot past Swarthout to cap the scoring with 23:33 remaining.
Ian Boor made three saves to get the shutout for the Blue Raiders.
Grottenthaler credited Boor and Hunter Kaysa, both seniors, for "leading by example on the field."
Kaysa, usually a striker, played on defense Thursday because of injuries on Horseheads' back line.
The Express (0-3) got three excellent scoring opportunities from striker Alex Varkatzas.
The junior took a corner kick from Brian Owens while going up the middle, and his shot cleared the top post by inches with about five minutes to go in the first half.
About 3 1/2 minutes later, Varkatzas cut across the middle with the ball and again just barely missed.
Varkatzas then forced Boor to make a diving save on a shot seven minutes into the second half.
Elmira coach Derek Hamilton said the Express needs a lot of work.
"I don't think we're playing well collectively as a team. Horseheads put in more effort," he said. "We're relying on the other team's mistakes to create opportunities.
"We're a young team. It's a learning process."
HHDS Scoring - Morse (1-0), Silva (1-0), Eisner (1-0), Szewczyk (0-1), Zelko (0-1)
Shots/Corners - Elmira (3-3), HHDS (3-3)
Saves - Elmira (Swarthout - 0), HHDS (Boor - 1)
