Tough Game Against Cortland
Alex Levitskiy
This past Thursday, the Homer boys Junior Varsity and Varsity team played against their rival, Cortland. The Junior Varsity boys were victorious, ending the game with a lead of 4-0. This was an important game for the Varsity team because if they won or tied the game, they would qualify for sectionals. Prior to the game, Coach Shiffman told the team to work hard. The stands were filling up more than ever before as the match began. Homer had a good play that ended up in us getting the first corner kick of the game. The ball was not being dominated by mostly one team; playing was occurring on both ends of the field. Justin Prentice, number eleven, of Cortland, had a breakthrough run, but Homer goalie, Hiland Bush, stopped the shot. It was fairly easy to see the level of intensity in the players. Later on in the half, Hiland Bush fed the ball to Mark Harris, who then played a great ball to the corner. Then Anthony Levitskiy outmaneuvered Cortland's defense, chipping the ball to Jas Singh who deflected the ball towards the goal only to have it stopped. Cortland then had three corner kicks in a row. Shortly after, number one of the Cortland team drew Homer’s goalie out of the goal, then gave the ball to number eleven who shot and scored on an open goal during the last few minutes of the first half. At half-time, Coach Shiffman told his team that “It was a good half.” His comment about the goal was that “It was an unlucky goal.” He told Homer to think that it was still 0-0 as they went on the field. Homer once again had the first corner of the second half, during which Anthony Levitskiy had a great header, almost scoring. Around ten minutes into the half, Cortland had a corner, and number sixteen of the Cortland team scored. The intensity picked up, with Marton Tozser and Nikolai Grihin getting good attempts at shooting. The half went on, and during the last few minutes Anthony Levitskiy, Jas Singh, and Brad Sovocool, made a great play but were not able to score. The final score was 0-2, with Cortland avenging their previous loss to Homer. Coach Shiffman commented that the team worked hard, and that we should have won. Homer still has a chance at getting into sectionals, which they hope to accomplish during this upcoming week’s games. 
