Greenville locks up title
Victory vs. Maple Hill clinches Patroon, No. 1 seed for tournament
In a span of three weeks, the Greenville boys’ soccer team registered seven wins, produced 38 goals and allowed only two. The Spartans capped an impressive Patroon Conference regular-season dossier Saturday with a 5-1 victory over Maple Hill.
That win locked up the regular-season title for Greenville (7-0 overall, 7-0 league) and assured the squad a final week of play in the league’s four-team tournament beginning Wednesday at Taconic Hills.
“We have to focus on the next two. That is what is important now,” Greenville senior midfielder James Mitchell said.
Without any sectionals this fall, the most games Greenville could hope to compete in this season was limited to nine — provided it first qualified and then prevails in the semifinals Wednesday. The Spartans made sure they entered the Patroon Conference tournament as the top seed by dominating perennial league power Maple Hill (41-1, 4-1-1).
Prior to the game’s opening whistle, Mitchell barked out to his teammates, “Let’s play to our pace.” The Spartans proceeded to dictate how the game would be played against the Wildcats as virtually the entire first 40
minutes were contested in Maple Hill’s defensive zone.
“When we’re on top and we’re energized, we’re always pushing forward and not letting them get out of their half (of the field). We’re setting the tempo,” said Mitchell, a four-year varsity standout and twoyear captain.
Featuring a talented roster comprised of just three seniors, the Spartans showed incredible balance through their strikers, midfielders and defenders.
“I am really fortunate that I have a really talented group of guys,” Greenville coach Nate Forrest said. “I really have to give credit to the community development programs in the area that really helped put out a lot of work and talent on the field for me. Certainly, the guys deserve all the credit. They went out there, they hustled, they contained, they possessed and executed the game plan we set out for basically every game since the start of the season. We wanted to be the dominant team.”
Five shutouts and wins by 3-1 over Coxsackie-athens and Saturday’s decision confirmed Greenville indeed was the league’s top team during regular-season play.
Mitchell, who paced the offense Saturday with superior passing, ball-handling skills and two goals, entered the season believing the team would be solid. Even he has been pleased with how well the team has excelled since opening the season Oct. 4 with a 4-0 triumph over Hudson.
“I expected a team that was going to come out and perform and give it our best, but it has truly been a surprise how the guys have come together passing,” Mitchell said.
“The team spirit is high. I have never been on a team that is so together and so unselfish on the ball. It is great to see our team come out and perform this well.”
“They are a very good team,” Maple Hill coach Dan Gillespie said of the Spartans. “They had other good teams like that in the past.
This one is led by Mitchell, who really is the cog in the wheel. Everybody runs because they know if they get open, he’ll get it to them every time. He hustles, defends and plays smart.”
“He brings so much to the game, not just with his own talent but he helps bring up the talents of those around him,” Forrest said of Mitchell. “He gets them fired up. When we get a goal against us, he is the first one to say it is OK and gets everyone to work. He makes sure we are out there buzzing.”
Greenville completely controlled the first 30 minutes and led 2-0 on the strength of two goals from junior Jack Motta. Maple Hill standout Eli Charlebois shaved the Wildcats’ deficit in half by slipping a direct kick inside the right post with 9:30 left before intermission. The Wildcats also generated a quality chance just before halftime.
Forrest stressed to his charges during the break to return to the free-flowing passing style that has served his squad well. The offense proved crisp throughout the second half and was paced by the ninth and 10th goals of the season from Mitchell to go along with a score by senior Miles Weiss.
“It shows guts and a willingness and want to win the game,” Mitchell said. “We showed we didn’t want to come out and settle for a 2-1 win.”