Elmira District Boys Soccer

Goshen scores two late goals for 2-0 soccer victory. Star-Gazette November 9, 2006 MILTON, N.Y. -- The Elmira Free Academy boys soccer team's season came to a close Wednesday afternoon with a 2-0 loss to Section 9 champion Goshen in a New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class A quarterfinal game at the Hudson Valley Sportsdome. Goshen's Patrick Robinson scored off a corner kick with about 13 minutes left to break a scoreless tie. Robert Barloe netted the second goal off a direct kick about a minute later. Goshen (17-1-1) advances to play Byram Hills in the state semifinals Saturday. EFA, which won its first sectional title in 17 years this season, finishes with a 9-7-3 record. "We're extremely proud," EFA coach Derek Hamilton said. "We have six seniors this year, with four seeing regular playing time. I'm happy to send them out on this note (winning a sectional title) after all the hard work they put in." Hamilton said his team, ranked ninth in the state in Class A, played well against fourth-ranked Goshen. Although Goshen ended up with a 13-3 shot advantage and 10-2 edge in corner kicks, Hamilton said the Blue Devils gave up few quality scoring chances. "I'm very happy with how we played," Hamilton said. "We shut down their main scorer, we won a lot of 50-50 balls in midfield. The majority of the game was in the neutral part of the field." It took what Hamilton described as an "absolutely tremendous" goal to get Goshen on the scoreboard. Robinson headed a corner kick out of the air and into the back of the net past Academy goalkeeper Bobby McGinnis. Hamilton said McGinnis was victimized by the poorly lit field inside the dome, setting up Goshen's second score. Hamilton said with the lines on the field tough to see, McGinnis stepped over the line at the top of the 18-yard line for the first time this season, giving the Gladiators a direct kick. Barloe then booted the ball in past McGinnis, who barely got a hand on it. EFA's best chance to score came on a shot by Kevyn Rustici from about 25 yards out with the score still 0-0. Hamilton said Goshen goalie Brandon Levine came up with "an unbelievable save." "If that goal goes in, it's a different game," Hamilton said. With a good chunk of this year's team expected back next season, Hamilton said Academy has reason for optimism after Wednesday's loss. "This year going in we knew we were underdogs, but next year since we return 13 players, we'll have a little higher expectations for ourselves."