Sharon Academy Downed By Danville in Championship Game
By Laurie-Jean B. Gauthier

Sharon Academy's #2 Phineas Ellis leaps into the air with his defender as they both go for the open ball. Teammate Willy Ruiz, #15, is ready to take the ball and run. (Herald Photo / Joyce Hunt). Sports cutlines Whit emily, Sharon be

Although they didn’t win the championship game in their first ever appearance, The Sharon Academy can be extremely proud of their effort. The #3 seeded Phoenix faced the #1 seeded Danville Indians in the D-IV finals at the U-32 High School in East Montpelier this past weekend and, to the "shock and awe" of some, forced their opponents to work hard throughout every minute and every second of play that there was to secure their single early goal victory.

It was clear from the beginning that Danville had a definite size advantage, but after that it wasn’t as cut and dry. Both teams had the desire and the speed to force the other to play hard and both had solid kicks that helped move the ball down the field. It was Danville, however, that had just enough of an edge to hold off their opponents, while holding on for the victory.

Danville’s Logan Calkins, Greg Morrison, Jesse Murray and Jordan White did a great job pressuring TSA into making "hasty passes" while allowing their defense " quick transition." Just shy of 10 minutes, Danville’s Jordan White put the ball in after teammate Julian Kempton worked the ball up the left side of the field while driving through the defender along the end zone. Clearly this put TSA down, but not out, as the Phoenix kept the pressure on forcing Danville to work hard throughout the remainder of the half.

The second half was more of the same, but with Sharon driving the play which forced Danville into playing some outstanding defense. TSA made several legitimate shot attempts as max Dybvig, Jeff Colburn, Willy Ruiz and Tim Luckey took aim, only to have Indian goalie Bruce Melendy make the saves. On two occasions Sharon had Melendy beat, but defender Derek Morrison made two huge saves where he kicked the ball out of play.

Never giving up and playing strong to the end TSA doesn’t claim the title, but they can claim an outstanding effort. The win gives Danville its first title since 1987. Sharon finishes the season with its best record ever. Sharon loses more than a dozen players to graduation and key scorers, Captain Phineas Ellis, leading scorer with 17 goals and 10 assists; Willy Ruiz 16 goals and Tim Luckey 15 goals.

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