ONEONTA – Edmeston-area teams made history Saturday, Oct. 17, sweeping the inaugural Tri-Del Championship varsity soccer matches at the Wright National Soccer Campus in Oneonta.
In the boys championship, Tri-Valley League champion Edmeston defeated Delaware League champion Gilboa-Conesville/Roxbury 3-0. Edmeston/Morris followed with a 1-0 victory over Charlotte Valley/Schenevus in the girls championship, giving the Tri-Valley League both titles in the first year of the competition.
The event brought together the champions of the Tri-Valley and Delaware leagues for two matches at the former National Soccer Hall of Fame fields. Despite the cold weather, more than 200 spectators attended the tournament, with friends, families and other supporters bundled up along the sidelines to cheer on their respective teams.
The boys took the field first at 10 a.m., with Edmeston Central School and a merged Gilboa-Conesville/Roxbury team entering the championship after successful regular seasons. Edmeston quickly took control, scoring all three of its goals during the first half before holding off a stronger Gilboa-Conesville/Roxbury attack after halftime.
Braymon Clark put Edmeston on the board less than two minutes into the match. Clark took advantage of an early opportunity and sent the ball into the back of the net, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead before the teams had time to settle into the game.
The opening minutes featured offensive chances on both ends of the field, with each team looking to establish momentum. Edmeston, however, proved more successful at converting its opportunities.
Brock Redner continued the scoring about 15 minutes after Clark’s opening goal. Redner collected a loose rebound in front of the Gilboa-Conesville/Roxbury goal and knocked it home, extending the Edmeston lead to 2-0.
Redner struck again approximately two minutes later following a skillful play by Clark along the right sideline. Clark slipped the ball between a defender’s legs and carried the play forward before centering it into the penalty area. Redner found the ball among the players gathered in front of the net and finished the opportunity for his second goal, giving Edmeston a commanding 3-0 advantage.
Gilboa-Conesville/Roxbury increased its intensity following halftime and began to generate more scoring opportunities. The Delaware League champions pressured the Panthers’ defense for much of the second half, but Edmeston protected its lead and prevented Gilboa-Conesville/Roxbury from breaking through.
Edmeston’s defense cleared several dangerous opportunities and remained organized through the final whistle. The 3-0 shutout made the Panthers the first boys champions in the history of the Tri-Del event.
After the match, Edmeston captains Redner and Clark hoisted the inaugural championship trophy as their teammates and supporters celebrated the victory.
When asked what the victory meant to the team, Coach Dan Cheatham said “Saturday’s victory was meaningful because it marked the closing of one chapter of our season and rewarded the hard work and dedication our team has put in all year. Winning the inaugural Tri-Del Championship against a quality opponent in GCR made the accomplishment even more special. Over the past three seasons, GCR has been one of our toughest opponents.”
The girls championship followed at 12 p.m., shortly after the conclusion of the boys match. Tri-Valley League champion Edmeston/Morris faced Delaware League champion Charlotte Valley/Schenevus in a closely contested game that remained scoreless throughout the opening half.
Both teams created opportunities during the first 40 minutes, but neither could capitalize. Edmeston/Morris began finding more space late in the half and applied additional pressure, although the team was unable to beat the Charlotte Valley/Schenevus goalkeeper before the break.
The game changed less than one minute into the second half.
Edmeston/Morris sent Sophie Robinson forward on a fast break, and Robinson pulled away from the Charlotte Valley/Schenevus defenders. She completed the play by depositing the ball into the goal, giving Edmeston/Morris a 1-0 lead.
The Edmeston/Morris side of the crowd erupted following the goal as Robinson was surrounded by her teammates.
Charlotte Valley/Schenevus continued searching for an equalizer, but the Edmeston/Morris defense held strong throughout the remainder of the half. The team cleared each of Charlotte Valley/Schenevus’ scoring opportunities and protected the one-goal margin through the final whistle.
The result made Edmeston/Morris the first girls champion in the history of the Tri-Del competition and completed a championship sweep for the Tri-Valley League.
The inaugural event offered the four teams another high-level competition before the Section IV Class D tournament. Each team entered sectional play with championship experience and an opportunity to continue its postseason run.
For Edmeston and Edmeston/Morris, the Oct. 17 victories represented more than two additions to their season records. The teams also earned permanent places in local sports history as the first boys and girls champions of the new Tri-Valley League-Delaware League collaboration.
All four teams will continue on in the upcoming Section IV Class D sectional finals, to be held in Sidney on Oct. 30.
This story was created by student reporters through the OnNY Community Media Lab, a program of SUNY Oneonta and the SUNY Institute for Local News.
