Schools
West Boys Soccer Shuts Out North Babylon 2-0
Mike Bennett scored early and West added an insurance goal in the second half.
West boys soccer defeated North babylon 2-0 Thursday to open league play, led by senior Eddie Viscount.
Viscount made his 2011 debut Thursday and paid immediate dividends, assisting on Mike Bennett’s early goal to put West out front 1-0. In the second half a Michael Dovi shot was redirected in front of the net by Drew Madarasz for some insurance, scoring the second of West's two goals.
“The kids played really well, they worked hard for a week and deserved it,” West coach Tom Lips said. “Positionally we were very strong. We could have done a little more with composure but I guess that was a little nervousness and physicality has a lot to do with it also.”
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West had a full week off after its loss to Ward Melville to prepare for its first league game. North Babylon coaches stressed getting off to a good start but unfortunately the Bulldogs they were not able to put that plan into motion.
“We weren’t ready to play,” North Babylon coach Mike Cashman said. “We discussed this time in and time out. The first 10 minutes of the game – the first 10 minutes of any half and the last 10 minutes of the half are the most critical ... for one reason or another we were just not mentally prepared to play.”
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North Babylon’s best chance came early in the second half with the score still 1-0. A corner kick was headed on goal and it took a lunging save by Brian Dugan to keep West out in front.
Madarasz’s goal with 22:10 remaining in the second half took a little bit of the pressure off and allowed West to get some rest for its top players.
“It was good,” Lips said of the second goal. “It allowed us to make a few subs because we have a big game coming up Saturday against Newfield so it allowed some of the starters to get breathers.”
Most importantly it allowed West to not be tempted to play Viscount for an extended period of time in his first game back.
“He wanted to play more but I wouldn’t let him,” Lips said. “He just had a speedy recovery, he really did. He’s been doing massive therapy and to our benefit he makes a big difference for us. The only thing is his timings off.”
West travels to play Newfield Saturday morning at 10 a.m. in a match-up of the two top teams in League III in 2010.
