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ESF Soccer Teams Win Barkeater Cup Matches
Both the ESF men's and women's soccer teams came away with victories over Paul Smith's College Friday night, Oct. 10, in the 5th annual Barkeater Cup matches at David W. Murphy Field at Onondaga Community College.
In the first game, the Mighty Oaks women faced blustery winds and horizontal rains but managed to defeat the Bobcats 4-1. The Mighty Oaks wasted no time getting on the board when junior Heather Carl tapped in a goal off a nice assist from Natalee Wrege only two minutes into the game. ESF controlled possession and managed to launch 15 shots on goal in the first half, however the inclement weather made it difficult for either team to finish.
In the second half, the rain let up a little and the Mighty Oaks regained their momentum when Carl knocked in her second goal of the game, using her patented long-ball shot from close to 20 yards out at the 52-minute mark, putting ESF up 2-0. Freshman Sarah Wohlfahrt then added a goal of her own at the 60-minute mark, the first goal of her collegiate career, putting ESF up 3-0. Paul Smith's College answered a few minutes later with a goal of their own, making the score 3-1, but ESF senior Captain Bryony Striffler put the Mighty Oaks out of reach with a phenomenal turnaround shot that crushed the back of the net with two minutes remaining in the game.
The women's team has won the Barkeater Cup two years in a row and improve to 7-1-1 with the win. They will face Berkeley College in an important Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup at David W. Murphy Field at Onondaga Community College Oct. 11.
The men's game was electric from the start, revealing the rivalry between these two schools. Playing in front of their home crowd, the Mighty Oaks were on the attack first when senior Dan McGraw found Jorge Guarin on a pass in front of the goal. Guarin managed to control the ball and bash it past the Bobcats' keeper, putting ESF up 1-0 just10 minutes into the game. Five minutes later, sophomore Geoff Golick converted a header off a cross from Zack Reda to give ESF a 2-0 lead. At the 25-minute mark, a shot by Reda from 25 yards out almost added to ESF's lead but the wind lofted the ball just above the Bobcats' goal. At the half, ESF held its 2-0 lead.
The second half offered more exciting soccer as ESF fought hard to keep its lead and the Bobcats fought hard to chip away at the lead. The Bobcats found the back of the net off a beautiful free kick goal at the 63rd minute. The Bobcats continued their attack but sophomore goalie Cameron Schiavone made some strategic saves and the back line of Nicholas Van Bennekum and Eitan Kiin held strong as the Mighty Oaks came away with a 2-1 win over their Adirondack rivals -- the same score as last year's contest.
Both teams re-expereinced some of the emotion that marked last year's Barkeater Cup match, which was played under tragic circumstances; Bobcat Captain Mark A. "Max" Calderone had died in a car accident the previous day. After winning last year's match, the Mighty Oaks presented the trophy to the Bobcats out of respect and to honor the loss of their captain. After this year's game, the Paul Smith's College men's soccer team personally presented the trophy back to the Mighty Oaks, thanking them for last year's compassionate gesture during a difficult time.
The men's team will take the field next in a must-win game against Berkeley College in an HVIAC showdown at David W. Murphy Field at Onondaga Community College Oct. 11.