By Ted Waddell
JEFFERSONVILLE — October 21, 2005 – Sullivan West Coach Debbie Owen was very happy following Wednesday afternoon’s Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Division IV match against the visiting James I. O’ Neill Raiders.
“This puts us in the sectionals bracket,” Owen said after the contest ended in a 1-1 tie.
After a scoreless first half, SW (8-7-2, 2-2-1 Division IV) took a 1-0 lead when Kevin Brewer scored at the 22:33 mark on a header off a cross from teammate Jonathan Reynolds.
But at 9:34, O’Neill (7-7, 1-3-1 Division IV) tied it up on a penalty kick by Daniel King.
At the end of regulation, Owen and O’Neill Coach Ken Hall agreed to play a couple of five-minute overtime periods. But the referees called the match a tie after the first OT due to the fact that darkness was rapidly falling over the slippery field.
“I thought it was hard fought on both ends,” Hall said. “There were a lot of opportunities for both sides, and a lot of good ball movement.”
Pleased with the tie that locked down a berth for the Bulldogs in the upcoming Section IX Class B tournament, Owen said her team “started slow, but came alive a little bit right before the half… then we came out with some intensity, but got a bit laid back in the final quarter of the game.”
O’Neill goalkeeper Stefano Mineo made eight saves and SW goalie Joseph Layman had four saves.