M-W Varsity Boys Soccer team ends regular season undefeated, awaits playoffs

NEWBURGH — On Monday afternoon, Oct. 15, the Monroe-Woodbury Varsity Boys Soccer team played its last game of the regular season against the Goldbacks of Newburgh Free Academy.
The Crusaders' home game was moved again, this time to Mt. St. Mary's College in Newburgh, because of the field conditions at the high school in Central Valley.
The Crusaders entered the game with a 15-0 record, having defeated the Goldbacks earlier in the season 2-0.
The Crusaders scored seven minutes into the game on beautiful set play off a free kick. The Crusaders lined up to take the kick, Connor Paik popped the ball to Christ Valle, who headed to Joseph Olivette who neatly tucked into the Goldbacks net to give the Crusaders a 1-0 lead.
Sixteen minutes later the Crusaders lined up to take another free kick from about the same place on the field. This time Valle just hit a cutting Olivette with a soft pass and he angled it past the Goldback goalie to make the score 2-0.
Finally, just before the half, Ikiel Collins-Brown found Connor Paik breaking down the side line and he scored from just inside the box to put the Crusaders up 3-0.
In the second half of the game the Crusader defense shut the Goldbacks down as they preserved their 12 shutout of the season.
The Crusaders defense has had another outstanding season. The play of the back line of Christian Garner, Joseph Olivette, Christian Hess and Joseph Nastu has been superb and, combined with Goalie Dylan McDermott, the team has only allowed five goals against all year.
The Crusaders 3-0 victory brings their record to 16-0.
Their next game will be decided when the Section 9 playoff brackets are determined.
- William Dimmit