FALLSBURG – Although Wednesday’s soccer game between the Fallsburg Comets and Monticello Panthers boy’s teams was a non-conference match, the game was played like it was a crosstown rivalry. The evenly matched teams competed hard, playing to a 1–1, draw at the end of regulation.

The physical play and intensity, at times got a little testy, prompting the referees to exert their influence to maintain the appropriate level of sportsmanship during the match. It was a very entertaining game to watch and showed the passion with which these two teams played the sport.

The Panthers’ first shot of the game; a hard drive that rang off the crossbar, would unfortunately be a sign of how things would go for them that day. Although they controlled the play and maintained possession for most of the first half, they ended up going into the break down 0 – 1.

The Panthers outplayed the Comets in the first half, but the Comets still held the lead at the break as luck would have it.

In the second half, things would even out. Most of the play was in the mid-field with each team battling for possession. 

Monticello scored their equalizer goal only a few minutes before the ending whistle. Both coaches agreed not to play any over time, not wanting to run down their already tired teams.

Monticello head coach Andres Tamayo said about the game. “We just didn’t capitalize on the opportunities we had in the first half, too many shots missing the net. The game is about momentum, and we allowed them to gain that momentum back. We fought hard though and got our energy, feeding off each other and got that tying goal. But overall, that’s the game of soccer, it’s hard to capitalize on every chance.”

Fallsburg head coach Pete Dworetsky commented, “We were forced to play a lot of defense for most of the first half, then we opened up and were able to score. We got more shots on goal in the second half, but we could have gotten more shots on goal, we just had too many touches. But I’m happy with the effort, especially Oscar our goalkeeper. We’re coming together, slowly but surely, but we have time.

The goalkeepers deserve special mention. Landon Chambers for the Panthers and Oscar Carranza Bonilla of the Comets, both had excellent games, even the goals that were scored they got their hands on and almost pulled in before they rolled into the net.