The Valley Central boys’ soccer team hung with the Newburgh Free Academy Goldbacks for 95 minutes before coming up short.

With the game tied in the second overtime, Newburgh senior Yensel Granados blasted a goal past Valley Central keeper James Joyce, sending the Vikings to a 2-1 loss on Thursday afternoon at Academy Field in Newburgh.

It was the season opener for both teams.

“To come out of the gates in fourth gear is tough,” Valley Central coach Paul Berkowitz said. “They’re such a good technical team. I think our guys played with tremendous heart. For the first game of the year, obviously we would have liked a different result, but it’s 100 percent a great foundation to build on.”

The Goldbacks controlled the tempo early but were unable to make the most of their chances, as at least four shots bounced either off a goal post or a crossbar, with several direct kicks sailing over the net.

They finally got on the board in the 38th minute on a goal by Henry Moran to give the Goldbacks a 1-0 lead at halftime.

The wind was blowing toward the South Street side of Academy Field all game and, not surprisingly, all three of the game’s goals were scored on that side of the field.

The Vikings tied the score in the second half when a throw-in went to Xavier Fonseca, who kicked a shot that bounced over the head of the Newburgh goalkeeper, hit the crossbar and went into the goal.

The Vikings’ James Joyce finished with nine saves.
“James is big back there,” Berkowitz said. “He’s one of the tops in Section 9. He’s been working hard all year. He’s a good shot stopper. He was huge today.”

The Vikings enter the season with a solid core of players. The Vikings are solid in the middle and Joseph Rossi plays on the wing. But while the Vikings showed what they can do defensively, they need to be stronger on offense.

“We just need to take more shots,” Berkowitz said. “Hopefully that’ll be something that develops.”

The Vikings were together less than two weeks before taking on the Goldbacks, and they’ll play their home opener on Thursday against the Minisink Valley Warriors to open their Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association Division II schedule.

With the state expanding boys’ soccer to six Classes, the Vikings have remained in Class AA with the Washingtonville Wizards, the Warwick Wildcats, the Warriors, the Monticello Panthers, the Cornwall Dragons and the Goshen Gladiators.

There was a lot to learn from Thursday’s loss to the Goldbacks to start the season.

“Every loss stinks,” Berkowitz said. “So, it’s hard, but you can walk away with your head held high because the effort was 100 percent. If they leave it on the field, I couldn’t be prouder of these guys. They left it on the field.”