Injuries limiting JV boys soccer at Springville-GI

SPRINGVILLE — With an already short bench, the junior varsity boys soccer team at Springville-Griffith Institute is trying to get into the win column, despite injuries incurred during various games.

Trailing 1 – 0 going into the second half of a game in Holland on Oct. 4, the Griffins continued to compete, although there were no substitutes to relieve the players on the field, for the entire half.

The Holland Dutchmen took advantage of Springville’s injuries and added two more tallies, to take the game to 3 – 0. The loss dropped Springville to 3 – 7 on the season.

“Injuries and concussions have taken a toll on Springville’s boys’ soccer teams,” said JV Coach Martin Niefergold. “They are responsible for causing an already short bench even shorter, at every level of soccer for the Griffins, this season.”

The team was back on the field on Oct. 5 at home, to play the Maryvale Flyers. Dustin Emerson drew first blood in the first half, but that goal was matched by Maryvale in the second, sending the game to overtime.

“Our players were running out of gas during the 10-minute, sudden death overtime period,” said Niefergold, who watched, as a “sloppy” clearing pass by a Springville player was intercepted by Maryvale in front of the Springville goal, resulting in the game-winner. “Mark Doud made a nice attempt to make a save, but could not stop the goal,” the coach said. That marker came, with fewer than 60 seconds left in overtime.

The Griffins’ next game was Springville’s final game of the home schedule, on Thursday, Oct. 11, against the North Collins Eagles. Emerson started the scoring again, followed by a Nick Lavanture goal, to give Springville a 2 – 0 lead, at halftime. “This was the most dominant half of soccer the Griffins played this season,” Niefergold said.

Doud went between the pipes in the second half for Stephen Lightcap, who moved to forward for the remainder of the game. The move allowed Lightcap to finish off a scoring chance that was generated by a free kick from Lavanture, to put Springville up 3 – 0.

With 2 minutes to go in the game, North Collins ended the shutout bid, but Springville held on for the 3 – 1 win, improving to 4 – 8 and snapping a four-game losing streak.

Niefergold praised his team’s defense at the close of the victory. “The defensive unit of David Reese, Collin Harrigan and Jimmy Shearer played very solid,” he said. That trio played every minute of the game.

Derek Bush made his JV debut in that game, having been called up from the modified team. “Derek had an impressive first game for the JV team, playing an energetic midfield position,” Niefergold said.

The win against North Collins was the final game at the JV level for Garrett Frank, one of Springville’s captains. He has since been called up to the varsity team. “Garrett will be missed on the JV team, more than most people realize,” Niefergold said. “He does a such a great job of controlling the play. When he’s on the field, everyone feels much more confident in Springville. He makes Springville so much better and everyone around him becomes a better player. He is ready for the varsity level and we wish him and the entire varsity team the best of luck.”

Springville tried to secure back-to-back wins for the second time this season and the first time since Sept. 13, when the Griffins played in Pioneer on Monday, Oct. 15. Springville lost by a score of 3 – 1, to drop to 4 – 10 this fall.

The team played again on Wednesday, Oct. 17 in East Aurora, before closing out its season schedule on Friday, Oct. 19 in Cheektowaga. The Cheektowaga game was originally slated for Oct. 9, but was rescheduled, due to a shortage of players.