Anne Delaney: Not the best soccer, but Whitesboro-New Hartford had lots for fans

In the end, they lined up and acknowledged the opponent as they were supposed to.

 

After 90-minutes, 31 seconds of soccer, four yellow cards and at least four clock stoppages to allow a New Hartford trainer to attend to the injured, the members of New Hartford and Whitesboro boys soccer teams uttered 'nice game' in low voices as they filed past each other at Perry Junior High School. 

 

The quality of soccer wasn't stellar between the Tri Valley League rivals who came into the match unbeaten in the league. Neither established possession in the first half. New Hartford had the upper hand in this area for most of the second half, but Vinny Barbato gave Whitesboro a 3-2 win with a goal 31 seconds into the second 10-minute sudden death overtime. 

 

"They wanted it so bad, they went all out," Whitesboro coach Ben Karas said of his team, which trailed 2-1 with less than two minutes to play in regulation. "It's that rivalry between New Hartford and Whitesboro." 

 

Both teams had at least one good shot on goal in the first 10-minute OT. New Hartford's Joel Kamilow went left to right with a good shot at Whitesboro keeper Scott Barry. With 22 seconds remaining, Nathaniel Mansur got the ball in the open field for New Hartford. Mansur beat Kevin Donato to give the senior a one-on-one with Barry. Mansur overran the play and his momentum carried him wide left to keep the game tied.