By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports Report
TIOGA CENTER — Tioga made the most of its chance at redemption, avenging an early-season loss with a 3-0 win over Marathon here Tuesday afternoon in the opening round of the Section IV, Class C girls soccer playoffs.
The eighth-seed Tigers dropped a 3-2 decision to the ninth-seeded Olympians in the season-opener, so what was the difference Tuesday?
"Team chemistry," said Tioga coach Emily Potter. "This is a completely different team from then to now. The first game we had no idea what the younger girls could do.
"These girls have wanted to replay Southern Cayuga and Marathon right from the beginning, and they got their wish.
"We got Southern Cayuga Saturday," noted Potter. "We lost to them 5-1 the first time around, and Saturday it was 0-0 into the second overtime and they scored on a direct kick, which was unfortunate.
"We came out today against Marathon, we lost to them 3-2 the first time, so to beat them 3-0 is pretty impressive," added Potter.
The win is just Tioga's second postseason win in program history, and the first for Potter, who is in her second season.
Last season, Tioga dropped a 2-1 decision to Unadilla Valley in the opening round.
"It feels great," said Potter. "We've been here before, but unfortunately we lost last year in the first round the playoffs.
"We didn't have Sophia (Haney)," noted Potter. "We didn't have Sophia, and she's definitely a key player in the connections we have in the middle."
Tioga's first postseason win ever came two years ago — a come-from-behind, 6-5, win over Unatego. Sophia Haney, now a senior, scored four goals and Grace Howey, now a freshman, had two goals.
About seven minutes into Tuesday's game, Howey slipped a pass through a pair of defender to Haney in the box. She beat a pair of defenders and fired a shot inside the far post to make it 1-0.
Potter couldn't say enough about the Howey-Haney duo.
"That was a huge goal for us, especially with Sophia coming off an injury last night.
"They connect with one another, their chemistry together is amazing," she said.
"There are times on the field when they don't have to say anything and they know the other is going to be there," added Potter.
About two minutes later, Haney had another scoring opportunity, but her shot from close range with knocked down at the post by the Marathon keeper.
With 21:32 remaining in the first half, Howey lined up for a direct from 45 yards out. She hit a high, arching shot, catching the Marathon keeper in between playing it in the air, or on the bounce. As she attempted to get back to the goal mouth, the ball bounced over her head and into the goal to make it 2-0.
"I think that goal took a little wind out of (Marathon's) sails," said Potter. "Grace had that goal, and she had the third one — a long run down the field.
"Not many people can compete with her speed. She's one of a kind," added Potter. "To be able to dribble the ball as close to her feet as she can is pretty unstoppable."
About 7 1/2 minutes later, Howey picked up a loose ball in the Marathon end, and raced 75 yards with the ball at her feet, beating four or five Marathon defenders before punching a shot past the Olympian keeper to make it 3-0.
Both team had a number of scoring chances in the second half, but both keepers, with a little help from posts and crossbars, were up to the task.
Marathon had a 17-11 advantage in shots-on-goal, and both teams had five corner kicks.
Tioga sophomore Marcy Moniz recorded 13 saves in net for the Tigers.
"Our defense played pretty well," said Potter. "I don't think (Marathon) had a dangerous shot in the first half. A lot of them were from 30 yards out.
"In the second half, Marcy (Moniz) made a couple nice saves," she added.
Tioga, now 8-7-1, will travel to face top-seeded Trumansburg (13-1-1) Saturday.
"Sometimes playing the number-1 seed can get in the girls' heads, but I don't think they're unbeatable," said Potter. "I think it's anyone's game on any given day. Hopefully, we can come out on top."
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IN PHOTO 1: Tioga's Grace Howey. ... IN TOP PHOTO: Tioga's Sophia Haney celebrates Howey's goal. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
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