The Patchogue-Medford boys soccer team broke even to 4-4 in summer league play Monday evening, edging out the 5-2 Sachem North squad 2 goals to 1 at Diamond in the Pines park.
A scoreless first half gave way to an opening goal at 25:26 to go and the gamewinner with 1:19 left, both courtesy of Raider Kyle Smith. The gamewinner was assisted by Brian Cioffi.
North's Kyle Sasso found a chance on the right side, pushing through and booting in the equalizer with 11:43 on the clock for the Arrows's lone goal.
"We started with 9 players tonight," said Raider coach Steve Vesey, adding that the slight upset did improve the team's morale. "We played the entire game with 10 players - our 10th player show up late. We played short, but it was a real good effort for us. I thought we'd be in trouble tonight."
Vesey, mentioning that his squad would face some hurdles in the upcoming week's matches (the large-school, 7-2 leaders Longwood on Wednesday followed by 6-1 second-placers Newfield on Friday), pointed out that wins notwithstanding, summer soccer versus the fall variety are "different animals," and that summer league play, for all the skill it helps keep fresh, isn't the most accurate yardstick for what to expect come September.
"The summer's not always indicative of what you see in fall, but it does give us a chance to get a look at players," he said.
"I thought we had a good chance having a few more guys," said North coach Don Russo, adding that this week would also be particularly tough, including a rematch against the Ward Melville team slated for Tuesday evening after last week's rain-out halted play eight minutes before the half - a game cancelled before then is subject to rescheduling. "But it just didn't work out that way."
Patchogue-Medford will host Longwood at the Sipp Avenue Complex on Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m. North travels to Centereach Park to face Ward (5-2) Tuesday at 6:45 p.m.
