Sudden Impact
Tri-Valley/Fallsburg Boys Soccer Game Terminated After Frightening Second Period Collision Of Players; Girls Game Postponed As Well Due To Safety Concerns; Fallsburg’s Arturo Perez Okay After Night’s Stay At CRMC; Hunter Kennedy Treated And Released From Hospital
Fallsburg 2, Tri-Valley 0
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
A night of great soccer would change into a night of gloomy concern after a scary midfield collision between Fallsburg sophomore Arturo Perez featured in earlier action in the top left photo and Tri-Valley's Hunter Kennedy pictured next to Perez, again earlier in the game in the top photo at right as they observe a scramble in front of the T-V goal. Perez was seriously hurt and had to be transported by ambulance to CRMC where he remained overnight. He' and Kennedy are both okay. Bottom left: Sam Didinsky beats T-V keeper Mike Devault for the game's first goal. Another close encounter of the cerebral kind: Didinsky and Tom Monforte nearly bang heads as Patrick McHugh looks on.
GRAHAMSVILLE, NY—It only takes a second for life to suddenly shift from the routine to the starkly dramatic.
The dramatic faces of comedy and tragedy mirror life's starkly contrasting emotions.
Ask drivers or passengers who have ever been in accidents. One minute they were just going along and then out of nowhere comes that unforgettable moment of a collision, that terrifying sound of metal on metal and then the aftermath….
Lives can be changed or even lost in the space of a nanosecond and we rarely see it coming.
As I write this piece that can’t help but focus on the terrifying on the field collision between Fallsburg sophomore Arturo Perez and Tri-Valley senior Hunter Kennedy, I am reminded just how precious life is, how fragile we are.
In the blink of an eye the focus on this chilly night shifted without warning from a compelling soccer game between rivals teams to the grave concerns about what could have been a potentially life-threatening injury.
Before recounting what occurred, it is of paramount importance to report that both boys are okay.
Perez was assiduously attended to by the Grahamsville EMS team and covered with a cascade of donated jackets, sweatshirts and sweaters from concerned fans to prevent him from going into shock.
Fallsburg senior keeper Dustin Foertsch making one of his powerful punts. Foertsch and teammate Daniel Justiniano went to the hospital to look in on Arturo Perez.. The team is literally a band of brothers.
This transpired just moments following the head-to-head collision with the much larger Kennedy as the two boys raced with all the verve of their youth and determination for a ball that veered towards the near sideline, literally a few feet from my fixed attention, not to mention far too close to be photographed by my nearly 300mm zoom lens. .
Kennedy was clearly shaken up, but soon able to get up on his own power apply an ice pack to his aching head and looked over by EMS staff, before heading off to the hospital with his mom to be further checked out.
By stark contrast, Perez had fallen instantly to the field and immediately went into convulsions which then morphed into an even more frightening state of motionless as coaches and other personnel rushed to his aid.
As is the case with volunteer ambulance services in rural areas, it took awhile for the ambulance to arrive. Meanwhile Coach Herb Foertsch knelt over Perez, holding his hand and reassuring him that help was on the way.
The EMS team methodically assessed Perez’s vital signs, checking his pupils for dilation and rendering his neck and head motionless for the ensuing transfer to a backboard beforeh is trip to Catskill Regional Medical Center.
The collision had occurred in an area of the field partially darkened by a stubborn set of lights that had kept going out during the game. There was still sufficient light for the game to be played in but officials had already decided during the halftime that if any others had gone out they were going to call the game and the subsequent girls game slated to follow.
Tri-Valley's Anthony Beale nearly gets one by Dustin Foertsch. Operative word here: nearly.
The incident occurred with 18:55 remaining in the second period. Fallsburg led 2-0 at that juncture but the game was clearly no longer the focus at this point; only the safety and well-being of the injured players and by extension, the two teams who awaited news about their condition and what was to happen next.
Foertsch never thought twice about what he needed to do. He accompanied Perez to the hospital in the ambulance. Devoted to his players whom he regards as his own children just like he does his son Dustin who is the team’s keeper, he sped off in the ambulance, leaving things in the hands of his able assistant coach Mike St. Lawrence.
The latter expressed his reservations to the officials about putting his team back out there on the partially darkened field and told them that Fallsburg Athletic Director Tim Bult was on his way and that the decision would rest with him and the Tri-Valley Athletic Director as to whether the game should be resumed.
By now it was getting later and later and the girls game slated to start at 8:00 would have been delayed by more than a half-hour at the least. Bult conferred with Tri-Valley Athletic Director Derek Adams, the coaches and the officials and after a lengthy confab, the game was called.
“Safety is our principal concern, “ stated Bult who noted that the game was official having passed its halfway mark and that the girls game would be rescheduled as quickly as they could agree on a viable date/time.
Foertsch’s wife Winnie, who diligently photographs Fallsburg sports of every ilk and variety was visibly shaken by the scene. Like her husband, she is immeasurably close to her son’s teammates. She messaged me early the next morning to let me know the boys were okay and that Dustin Foertsch and Danny Justiniano had gone to the hospital to be on hand for their teammate.
Such brotherhood is part and parcel of teams like Fallsburg where the bond of playing together forges abiding friendship and love. Perez is the younger brother of the now –graduated Victor Perez. The family ties speak for themselves and by family I am referring to the entire team connection.
While Tri-Valley (1-13, 0-9 OCIAA) is no longer in contention for a playoff berth, Fallsburg now 4-7 (2-5 OCIAA) needed to win every remaining game including this one, two against Eldred and one versus Chester to return to the sectionals where it has had its share of success as well as drama over the past two years.
The Bears kicked off to start the game but Fallsburg went right on the attack. Tri-Valley had trouble clearing the ball in the early going as Sam Didinsky turned it back as did Austin Halchak as the Comets pressed their cause.
Fallsburg drew first blood with 4:37 gone by on a goal by Didinsky for the 1-0 lead.
Fallsburg's Victor Martinez and Tri-Valley's Dan Lederman vie for a ball near the sideline.
Tri-Valley looked to counter as the ball was sent ahead to a charging Tyler Greffrath. Fallsburg knocked it out and on a throw in by Dan Lederman the Bears tried to take advantage of the short field in front of Foertsch to make something happen.
Fallsburg’s Alan Sierra prevented that with a rapid rush up the far side. T-V kicked it back in but Justiniano was there to reverse it again as the back-and-forth parry continued. Mike Devault made a save on a Fallsburg shot attempt. Devault stopped a Didinsky shot as the fiery Comet held the sides of his head in disappointment.
Much of the play continued in the midfield with great intensity, a foreshadowing of the second half catharsis but there would be no more scoring in the period as the teams came off the field with the Comets holding the narrow 1-0 lead.
The Comets would add to that with a goal by José Rubio on an assist from Didinsky at 24:17. The Bears had a couple of chances to get it by Foertsch including shots by Greffrath and Anthony Beale but the dominant keeper wasn’t going to be beaten on this night.
With the second period now more than half gone, the pace intensified as the Bears tried to break through. It was then that the aforementioned collision occurred and everything came to a halt.
Clearly the game stats were the last thing on my mind so I am unable to report on the minutiae including shots on goal, saves etc. Once the decision to call the game was rendered, Fallsburg’s 2-0 victory went into the books. The fans and the girls teams exited the field. The Tri-Valley girls who were hoping to clinch a playoff berth with a win over Fallsburg will now have to wait for that potential chance.
Good Golly Ms. Volley
Fallsburg senior volleyball players are honored on Senior Recognition Night: Left to right (players and coaches names only not including their representatives (sorry!) Coach Carlye Hyde, Shanice Mack, Isabel Mejia, Alexis McCarthy, Nicolle Freeman and Marie Countryman.
Fallsburg senior volleyball players had were honored on Senior Recognition Night prior to their 3-1 victory over Liberty. T-V seniors include Marie Countryman, Nicolle Freeman, Alexis McCarthy, Isabel Mejiaa and Shanice Mack. The girls posed for photos with their loved ones prior to the game in the ceremony overseen by Athletic Director Tim Bult and Coach Carlye Hyde.
The Lady Indians won the opening set 25-19 but the Lady Comets came back to win the subsequent three sets by the scores of 25-23, 25-18 and 25-20 to garner their third win and a season sweep of the Lady Indians. Fallsburg’s other win came against S.S. Seward.
Top Performers:
Fallsburg: Melissa Melko 7 aces, 19 service points, 4 digs; Shanice Mack 5 aces, 10 service points, 5 kills, 3 blocks, 3 digs; Isabel Mejia 3 aces, 5 service points, 3 kills, 4 digs.
Liberty: Tea Williams 4 aces, 10 service points, 3 assists, 5 kills, 4 blocks; Cortney Sawyer 2 aces, 9 service points, 3 assists, 6 kills, 2 digs; Kristen Siegel 4 service points, 5 assists.
Records: Fallsburg 3-15; Liberty 1-16.
For albums of photos from the volleyball and soccer games visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
Pitched Battle
Eldred Prevails Against Feisty Tri-Valley In A Riveting Division V See-Sawing Encounter; Yellow Jackets Sweep Bears In Season Series
Eldred 2, Tri-Valley 1
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Riveting to say the least! Eldred and Tri-Valley go at it in their rematch. Eldred handily won the first game but this one was a down-to-the-wire thriller. (Clockwise) Eldred's Brian Hazen had four goals and an assist in the first clash with T-V. This time out he scored the game's first goal about four minutes into the second half. Tri-Valley's Tyler Greffrath goes airborne to head this shot. T-V tied the game up on a misplay by Eldred and an alert play by Anthony Beale to save a ball Eldred's Matt Watts watched rolling towards the sideline. Eldred's senior keeper Travis Steimle extends himself airborne and sideways to deflect a potential T-V goal. Steimle had 11 saves including a game-ending leap that sent a Beale shot into and over the crossbar.
ELDRED, NY—Getting better from one game to the next is the agenda in all sports, but in a game like soccer, predicated on split second decision making and refined skills, a team must marshal the will and the stamina to build on what it has done to date.
In the rigorously competitive world of Division V boys soccer inhabited by daunting teams like S.S. Seward, Fallsburg, Tuxedo, now back down in Class C, Chester and Tri-Valley, each league game is critical as teams vie for the chance to play in sectionals down the road.
Tri-Valley keeper Mike Devault leaps and saves as Eldred swarms for the attack.
The refinement of skills was clearly manifested as Eldred and Tri-Valley hooked up for a rematch of their September 9 game played in Grahamsville. In that set-to, Eldred, a team loaded with nine seniors and blessed with one of the region’s finest keeper in senior Travis Steimle, stampeded the Bears 6-2 as senior Brian Hazen scored four goals and had one assist.
This time out, the now visiting Bears were determined to show their improving weaponry, staunch defense and resolve to work for a season split with the Yellow Jackets. All of this without their most explosive player Josue Ramos who picked up a red card at the end of the Bears’ last game.
Being competitive is about closing ranks and stepping up and the Bears were about to do just that.
Hazen arrived just before kickoff. Needless to say the absence of the West Point hopeful was a major concern to Eldred Coach J.J. Gass. T-V Coach Jason Closs hoped nothing had gone awry for the feisty Hazen but knew his team might have a better chance in his absence.
The point was moot. Hazen arrived and with every touch and shot, he represented a lethal threat.
Eldred held sway in the first half as they outshot Tri-Valley 15-7 but the teams neutralized each other until 36:30 of the second half when Hazen picked up a ball from teammate Matt Watts and drove it by T-V keeper Mike Devault.
Eldred’s defenders had done a fine job of repulsing Tri-Valley’s attack which centered around the talented Anthony Beale whose speed often resulted in valiant runs deep into Eldred’s half of the filed.
After missing on some great attempts during the game, Eldred's Peter Vorstadt screams with joy after giving his team the go-ahead goal that he played off a T-V miss-kick,
By contrast, Eldred’s onslaught featured a bevy of players pushing up and making things happen. As Gass would later note, “Our defense pushed up very well. When the ball got to the halfline they were pushing it right back in. I didn’t care if it was a pass or a one-timer. If you keep the pressure on them eventually something is going to happen and things can break your way,” he noted.
Things haven’t exactly gone Eldred’s way thus far. After losing to dominant Seward, the Yellow Jackets had to play a back-to-back game with Chester, a match they lost due to diminished stamina and play far below their capabilities.
Again…part of the learning curve. Watching Eldred play following an emotional pre-game encouraging diatribe by Steimle to his team, it was clear that the “Jackets came to play. “Being an emotional leader is a big part of my game. I love getting people fired up. That’s my biggest thing because if they’re not fired up, I’m not fired up,” said the dynamic keeper.
Tri-Valley which to date had only one win, a victory over Chapel Field under its belt, fought like demons.
Keeping Eldred scoreless for the first 40 minutes was impressive and while they didn’t have that many shots on goal, they most certainly had their chances.
After Hazen’s goal had given Eldred the 1-0 lead, the hungry Yellow Jackets looked to get another one in. Credit Tri-Valley’s defense though which stiffened . Ever-vigilant for the opportunity to tie the game, the Bears got their chance on a momentary mental lapse by Eldred’s Matt Watts who watched a ball roll slowly towards the sideline waiting for it to go out instead of turning it back up the field. An alert Beale beat him to it and crossed it beautifully to Tyler Greffrath for the game-tying goal.
Eldred was momentarily stung, but you could sense the fury and fervor in the hive. Back on the attack they went, bringing the ball into T-V’s heartland time and time again. As had happened all day, rocketing shots by Craig Burns, Peter Vorstadt, Hazen and others pelted Devault but to no avail.
Until……..
With 6:25 remaining, Vorstadt picked up a miss-kick by a T-V defender and scored from the left wing. He turned ,raised his arms in jubilation and was met by Adrian Krzystofowicz for a midair chest bump. The 2-1 lead was a product of resiliency and perseverance; two qualities that will be needed in the battles to come.
“It’s a big testament to our team,” Steimle would note after the win. “We haven’t had a lot of aggression in games. Today we definitely proved ourselves and Friday against Fallsburg, we have a lot more to prove.
Evining the kind of speed he is known for in track, Eldred senior soccer veteran Craig Burns motors up the field. Defending with no fear is T-V's Hunter Kennedy who come this winter will be tossing people around in wrestling.
But Steimle had to answer the bell in the final seconds as he leaped to get a finger on a Beale laser that hit he feisty goalkeeper knocked into the crossbar to save the day. Eldred celebrated but Tri-Valley had nothing to hang their heads about.
Closs noted, “We were definitely in a defensive pressure the first half. We had a number of opportunities with shots on goal, good quality opportunities. In the second half we got a little more of a push with guys coming in like Hunter Kennedy. We tied it up and then we had one mis-kick on defense. I’m hope that we’re very close to being competitive in every game we play. I think we’re on the right track.
Eldred improved to 2-3 (2-2 OCIAA) while Tri-Valley fell to 1-3 (0-2 OCIAA). Steimle recorded 11 saves while Devault had 16. Eldred out-shot T-V 27-15.
Gass was pleased with the result, but looks for his team to continue to improve. For one thing he asserted that his team didn’t pursue the attack deep enough by kicking it from too far out. “When there’s ten yards of green in front of you I don’t know why we’re shooting from so far out,” he observed.
Asked about his team’s response to the game-tying goal he noted, “That’s the benefit of having seven senior starters because when something like that happens they have no problem coming right back and keeping their cool. Mistakes will happen. Not every one will result in a goal, though that one did. Their defense was playing pretty solid and I didn’t know if we’d get another one in.
But the guys responded. Having that senior leadership helps out and keeps the younger guys a lot more calm.”
Visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com for the complete album of photos.
