Just two days after scoring an emotional win in the Section 9 Class AA quarterfinals, the Valley Central boys’ soccer team was stunned in the semis.

The top-seeded Cornwall Dragons stunned the Vikings with two quick early goals on their way to a 5-0-win over the No. 4 Vikings on Friday at the Capelli Sports Complex in Chester.

“It’s tough,” Valley Central coach Paul Berkowitz said. “Cornwall’s a quality team, and if you fall behind early, it’s a really hard struggle to get back. We had a couple of unfortunate goals, but I’m still proud of our boys. Regardless of what the scoreboard was, we still fought. We had scoring opportunities to bring the game back.”

Cornwall’s Slav Mishkovski scored two goals within two minutes of each other to put the Dragons on top. His first – in the game’s eighth minute – pushed his shot out of reach out of Valley Central goalie James Joyce.
Two minutes later, the Dragons crashed in front of the goal with Mishkovski getting the final foot on the ball to give his team a 2-0 lead.

The Dragons got their third goal after the Vikings’ Joshua Webb was tagged for a yellow card. After the ensuing free kick, Cornwall’s Chase Aguilar’s goal gave the Dragons a 3-0 lead.

The Dragons also got a fourth first-half goal from Finn Harden, as the Vikings limped into halftime down by four goals with 40 minutes remaining on the season.

“We changed our shape a little bit and tried to go more offensive,” Berkowitz said. “Honestly, in the first 10 minutes, we absolutely had them on their heels, and they felt the pressure. We just didn’t get that one break.”

Their best opportunity came at 13 minutes, but Sean Watson’s shot was saved by Cornwall goalkeeper Brett Zimmer saved it.
“Their keeper came up with a real big save there going to his left,” Berkowitz said. “That settled things down for them, I think, but I’m really proud of how we came out in the second half. Most teams down 4-0 would just give up. They came out as if it was 0-0.”

The Dragons got a goal late in the second half from Aryan Altaf.

The Vikings secured their berth in the semifinals on Wednesday with a 2-1 win over the Wallkill Panthers in overtime on a game-winning goal by Jack Seymour.
“I truly feel for Wallkill because that’s how our kids are feeling today, but it’s even more brutal to lose that way,” Berkowitz said. “Sports are a wonderful thing because the memories will never go away.”

When the dust settles, the Vikings will have the memories of a successful season, which saw them post a 9-7-1 record with a senior-heavy team which includes Joyce, Seymour Watson and offensive threat Joseph Rossi.
Berkowitz had a simple message after the game.

“The game is over and don’t focus on the negative aspect of it,” he said. “Think about how good the season was and the bonds you made. Forty years from now, you’re not going to have those feelings, but you’re going to have the memories.”