IAC BOYS SOCCER: SVEC FALLS TO MORE EXPERIENCED DRYDEN IN LARGE SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP CLASH (2021-04-17)

BY TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
CANDOR — SVEC put up a good fight early, but experience eventually won out as Dryden defeated the Eagles, 5-0, in the IAC Large School championship game here Saturday afternoon.

The Purple Lions, who came in sporting a 10-0 record which included six shutouts and a 6.9 goals-per-game average, learned quickly that their host would not go down without a fight.

"I think our boys, right from the start, came out with a little desire and some fight and we didn't just give it to them," SVEC co-coach Jason Banks said. "We knew coming in they were a really strong team, a senior-heavy team with a guy that's going Division I next year. I think we came out with that heart and desire and just really stuck it to them a little bit."

With the exception of a successful penalty kick, the Eagles kept Dryden's high-powered offense out of the goal for 33 1/2 minutes until Siaosi Malepe tallied on a corner kick with 6:25 remaining in the first half. The assist went to Jackson Crocker.

The PK, converted by two-time all-state standout Casey Phillips following a hand ball in the box, gave the Lions a 1-0 edge with 35:08 on the clock.

A solid SVEC defensive effort held off Dryden most of the first half, including disrupting a pair of shots in the 16th and 18th minutes which would have all but sealed the deal had they found their way into the net.

The Eagles had a few strong possessions, but just weren't able to put anything in the goal.

"We were able to possess it a little bit," coach banks said. "Our centers, once they got control of the ball, were able to get it up to our forwards. We just couldn't put a decent shot on frame."

Dryden's experience would take over in the second half as Phillips put away a pass from Corey Matesanz at 27:23 to make it 3-0. Matesanz took a dribble down the left side with Phillips in the middle and the duo only had David Vega and goalkeeper Aidan Swayze in the way.

"They move fast and they were moving the ball well," coach Banks said.

A little over 10 minutes later, at 17:10, Phillips scored from in close to push the Dryden advantage to 4-0. Zack Willson picked up the assist. The hat trick gave the Division I-bound Phillips 32 goals on the season and 108 for his career.

The game's final score came with 7:08 to go in the game as Hajo Wise fed Matt McKewin-Bates, who knick the inside of the right post to make it 5-0.

The Eagles played minus a key starter while two other starters battled through injury to play.

"We had a couple knocks," coach Banks said. "Mason (Holmes) took a knock to the head against Lansing and we just didn't want to take that chance. He was a huge loss. Darren (Starkweather), our center back, played with a hurt hip, but he toughed it out the whole time. So did Jayden (Grube), usually our center mid. He was hurt too, but they didn't use it as an excuse. Most of them got out there and played."

Dryden, which boasts nine seniors, most of whom are starters, outshot SVEC, 23-2, and held a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks.

"They're senior have and they play all their seniors and they've been playing a while. Good for them," coach Banks said. "Next year might be a little different story when we're not starting eight sophomores.

"We're losing three seniors. We're getting all or our starters back, so we're excited about next year."

The Eagles finish off a season in which they dominated the IAC South Large School division despite their youthfulness.

"I think this was definitely a positive," coach Banks said of the season. "We're 7-3 in our division. We outscored them 29-1, so we played really good soccer. It's just when we got against some older teams, they were just bigger, faster, stronger. It's not like they played better soccer. We just came up against some older kids."

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IN PHOTO 1: SVEC's Hunter Bates (L) and Noah Banks. ... PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.