TSA Boys D-IV State Runners-Up

TSA Boys D-IV State Runners-Up

By Laurie-Jean B. Gauthier

It was perfect soccer weather when The Sharon Academy took the field at Fair Haven High School Saturday. TSA faced the Black River Presidents for bragging rights and the 2008 D-IV Vermont State Boys Soccer Championship title. Black River came off the field with the slim 1-0 win.

The Phoenix entered the final game seeded second while Black River was the top seed. Both teams had impressive season records, with TSA at 15-0 and the Presidents at 16-1. Sharon was playing for their school’s first-ever championship while Black River was defending their 2007 state championship.

Both teams were scoreless just before the midway point of the first half when Black River’s James Greenwood hit pay-dirt with the one and only goal of the game. Described as an "over-the-head flick" (Times Argus) or a "bicycle-kick" (Valley News), it was pretty and perfect and all that the Presidents would need to earn the repeat championship title with the 1-0 victory.

The Presidents were the controlling squad during the first 20 minutes of play, while Sharon held the edge through the remaining 10 minutes before the break with Michael Young-Ward setting up the dangerous duo of Colin Pope and Hannes Fischer-Byrne, with some excellent crosses that Black River managed to clear away. Sharon continued to pressure the Presdents the entire second half but they were unable to capitalize on any of their efforts.

Back in just two minutes and forty-eight seconds, a Colin Pope header was nabbed by Black River’s tender Chris Kowalski. A Pope pass and Will Seymour blast attempt sailed over the crossbar. Two more Pope tries failed and a Seymour set-up for an Otto Pierce direct kick was blocked by a President defender. A Danny Moore corner kick, with 7:10 remaining in the game, was corralled and two free kicks at close-range were fruitless as well.

Eight and eight was the keeper count, as both Phoenix goalie Brad Farrell and President Kowalski faced an even amount of shots.

TSA will lose eight to graduation, Danny Moore, Bobby Farrell, Evan Frank, Duncan Nelson, Otto Pierce, Colin Pope, Will Seymour and Cody Spiegel. Although a fair chunk of talent will be gone, Coach Rob Stainton will still have some very experienced returnees for next year’s team, with Michael Young-Ward, Andrew Parent, Eddie Massimino, and Brad Farrell, along with Alex Rogers, Hudson Cox and Erik Littlehales, who just completed their first varsity season. TSA also has a junior varsity program, so the numbers are good.

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