Evening Sun Report

Girls’ Soccer

ONEONTA – Two weeks ago, Gilbertsville-Mt. Upton’s girls were one loss away from not going to the sectional playoffs. After Wednesday afternoon’s game against Cherry Valley-Springfield, the Raiders are now one win away from winning the school’s second-ever Section IV title after beating the Patriots, 1-0.
G-MU, the 10th seed in the Class D playoffs, will meet Milford in the sectional finals this weekend in Oneonta at a time to be determined. The Raiders (10-6-3) controlled much of the first half, and a goal by Kali Murphy late in the first half stood up, that despite CV-S’s relentless offensive pressure the final 10 minutes.
“I told them we didn’t have to score, we just wanted to play defense,” said G-MU coach Kristen Bradbury, who took over the program three years ago inheriting a winless team.
Logan Eltz made eight saves for the Raiders, and was especially aggressive patrolling the 18-yard box. “She has just stepped up big time this year and done a good job,” Bradbury said of Eltz. “I could have cried just thinking about it. She made a lot of good stops.”
The Raiders had all of the good scoring opportunities in the first half, three of which were from point-blank range. The first one, the shot sailed just over the top of the crossbar, the second was a breakaway in which CV-S goalie Kylie Graham made the stop. On the third, Murphy was in front of the goal during a loose-ball scramble, and she pounded it in at the 32:31 mark.
“The last time we played (CV-S), it was probably one of our worst games of the season,” Bradbury said. “We definitely had a lot more chances in this game than the last time.”
Until the final minutes of the game, G-MU had a decided edge in shots on goal, although the majority of the Raiders’ shots came in the opening 40 minutes. The change of direction – and the prevailing wind – had the Patriots in attack mode. G-MU defenders Alicia Sebeck, Whitney Gilbert, Tanya Barnes, and Brianne Lambert spearheaded a cohesive defense that has played extra stingy in the second half of three straight playoff wins.
“Everything started with us playing like a team,” Bradbury said. “We’ve played well late in the season and did a lot of good passing. It kind of fell apart in the middle of the season, but we’ve been able to pick it up again.”
G-MU’s last Section IV title came in 2001 under former head coach, Todd Talbot.
Summary
Score by half
G-MU 1 0–1
CV-S 0 0–0
Goals-assists: (G) Kali Murphy, 1-0 (1, 32:31).
Shots-corners: (G) 6-0, (C) 8-8.
Saves: (G) Logan Eltz, 8, (C) Kylie Graham, 3.

Elmira Notre Dame 7, Greene 0
ELMIRA – Elmira Notre Dame scored six goals in the opening half living up to its top seed in the Class C playoffs to eliminate Greene from postseason play on Wednesday evening.
Bee Bulkley scored three goals for the Crusaders, who had 30 shots on goal in the game.
Greene finishes the season 13-4-1.

Boys’ Soccer

Midstate Athletic Conference Senior All-Star Game

Home 6, Away 2
GREENE – At the Midstate Athletic Conference Senior All-Star Game held at Greene Wednesday, the Home team, comprised of players from B-G, Greene, and Delhi, picked up a four-goal victory.
Michael Mertz of the Bobcats had two goals and one assist, while single goals were tallied by Greene’s Mikki Brown, Evan Moxley, and Nate Patrick. Brown’s goal was especially noteworthy as he converted a bicycle kick in the second half off a pass from Patrick. B-G’s Patten added a goal in the victory.
Summary
(3-1 at half)
Goals-assists: (H) Evan Moxley (G), 1-0, Mike Mertz, B-G, 2-1, Mikki Brown (G), 1-1, Nate Patrick (G), 1-2, Steve Patten (BG), 1-0, Jordan Smith (BG), 0-1; Andy Hannigan (D), 0-1. (A) Dylan Maxson (Un), 1-0, Tim McGuire (W), 1-0, Jacob Carr (Ox), 0-1.
Shots-corners: (H) 17-4, (A) 9-1.
Saves: (H) Curtis Richards, 6, (A) Dylan Whaley, 9.
Rosters
Home– (Greene, B-G, Delhi)
Away– (Unatego, Walton, Sidney, Unadilla Valley, Oxford)