Valley Sports ReportNEWARK VALLEY — Tioga scored five-second half goals to erase a two-goal halftime deficit on its way to a 6-4 win over Newark Valley here Friday afternoon in IAC boys soccer action.
"We started the game hot for the first five minutes and then again took out foot off the gas," said Tioga coach Donne Van Dusen.
"I challenged the boys at half to play with more intensity and communicate, and the second half was much stronger on our end," he noted.
"Hats off to Newark Valley, they really played physical and challenged us, which i believe pushed us back in the first half.
"I'm proud of how the boys responded and were able to make good connections in the second half to pull out the win," Van Dusen added.
Drayke Ulrich scored on a penalty kick two minutes into the game to give the Tigers a quick 1-0 lead, but the Cardinals controlled the remainder of the first half, scoring three goals and taking a 3-1 lead into the halftime intermission.
Jace Schanbacher scored 38 seconds into second half to close gap to 3-2, but Newark Valley answered to push the lead back to 4-2.
With 33:53 remaining in the contest, Colin Wilson crossed a ball that bounced in the box, deflected off the keeper and crossed the line to trim the deficit to 4-3.
With 29:42 remaining in the contest, Ulrich scored to make it 4-4, and 14 seconds later Collin Wilson added a goal give the Tigers a 5-4 lead.
Both teams threatened over the next 29 1/2 minutes, but neither found the net until Schanbacher iced the game with a break away goal with 7 seconds remaining.
NV had a 12-10 edge in shots-on-goal, and and 8-6 advantage in corner kicks.
David Van Dusen recorded eight saves in net for the Tigers.
Tioga, now 1-2, returns to action Wednesday at O-M.
