Pair of late goals eliminate Center Moriches

CORTLAND, N.Y. - Center Moriches' Homer odyssey is over.

Jordan Sanders gave the Red Devils an early lead, but a late Marcellus surge ultimately downed Center Moriches, 2-1, in a girls soccer Class B semifinal at Homer High School.

This is the second straight year the Red Devils have lost in the first round at the state tournament.

"We didn't give up the whole game. It wasn't like we scored early and said, 'game's over, we can give up,' " Sanders said. "I just don't know what happened on those two goals. They just finished those two shots."

Despite a light early morning snow punctuating temperatures in the low-30s, Marcellus (20-1) came out hot, dominating possession at the start.

But the tide turned when, with 15:39 left in the first half, Tannica Joseph executed a perfect throw-in toward a scrum in front of the goal, finding Sanders, who scored to give Center Moriches (16-3) a 1-0 lead.

"I think in the first half, it was definitely nerves [that] got the best of us," coach Lea Brady said. "We came out a little flat. And then after a good five, seven minutes we were able to pick up our pace; settle in, get relaxed and play our game."

SEE PHOTOSMarcellus 2, Center Moriches 1

The Red Devils held their slim margin into the second half, and Marcellus again came up empty on several scoring chances. But even on a snowy day, it's never a good idea to play with fire.

Kathryn Busa scored on a breakaway to tie the score for Marcellus with 7:06 to go, but the goal didn't appear to dampen any Red Devils spirits.

Then Busa struck again with 3:04 remaining, knocking in the go-ahead goal from 20 yards out.

"We thought this was our year to win the whole thing, we thought we could do it," Sanders said. She paused, perhaps thinking of what the team hadn't lost - a strong core that returns intact in 2011 as the reigning Class B champs on Long Island. Her voice lifted: "Next year."