The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Ted Waddell

[GRAHAMSVILLE] – If you’re going into your second soccer season without a checkmark in the win column, you’ve got nowhere to go but up.

On Tuesday, September 8, when the home team Bears booters of Tri-Valley (0-2) squared off against the visiting Chapel Field Lions (1-1) in a non-league boy’s varsity soccer match, for a while it looked like the local lads might be on the way to breaking their losing streak, but at the final tick of the game clock, it wasn’t to be. The lead switched back and forth like a twitching tail of a lion, as the Bears clawed their way back to tie it up, and late in the game closed to within a goal on a penalty kick, but in the end the Lions roared away 5-4.

Tri-Valley is a bit slim this year in the senior department, as three 12th graders (Bobby Beale, Matt Bogorad and Logan Ackerly) see double duty as football players. Keepers during the match: Ezra Kliszewski (Chapel Field), and Eugene Norton and Bobby Beale (Tri-Valley). Bears scoring: Captain Anthony Beale unassisted at 11:00 in the first frame and Beale assisted by Juan “Nacho” Rios off a corner kick at 28:00. In the second half, Rios scored on a direct kick about six minutes into the frame, followed by Mike Houghtaling penalty kick at the 29 minute mark.

Lions goals: Jessie Capalbo (3 goals), Josh Schoch (1), Haile Shun (1). Assists: Chris Bolduc (3), Ryan Conway (1), Joe Sgamdurra (1). “I’ve got a lot of baseball players and runners,” said Lions coach Christian Elizondo. “They’ve got a lot of heart and desire to get the job done…we’re working on their soccer knowledge.” His take on this team’s performance in the match against the Bears? “They could have given a bit more of an effort, [we] got a little lackadaisical with a couple of goals up, but then Tri-Valley came right back.”

“We were able to get our first ‘W’ which is always good,” added Elizondo. Bears coach Bob Ackerly said his team’s intensity was up, even though the are coming off a winless season in 2008. “If we can just keep on improving, we have nowhere to go but up…we’re going to surprise a couple of people. We’re not up to full strength yet.”

To view individual photos or to purchase prints from Lions Nip Bears – Tri-Valley vs. Chapel Field Boy’s Soccer 9/08/08 visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.