Lions move on behind pair of Nostrand goals

Cortland Standard

Bob Ellis/staff photographer
John Whitmore (11) of Dryden heads a ball off a corner kick against Union Springs during a downpour. Teammates Greg Nostrand (9) and Jonathan Becker (left) stand near in Tuesday’s Section 4 Class B contest.

DRYDEN — Greg Nostrand scored a pair of goals to send Dryden High boys into the Section 4 Class B soccer tournament semifinal round.
Nostrand scored once in the first half, but it was the game-winner with 13 minutes left in the match that got the third-seeded Purple Lions past visiting sixth-seed Union Springs 2-1 and into the next round. Dryden (10-4-1) will travel to second-seed Oneonta (10-2) Friday for a 3:30 p.m. match.
“We came out very strong and moved the ball extremely well,” Dryden coach Laszlo Engel said. “We held on for the win. We played well and Union Springs did not give up. The weather certainly influenced the game as both teams had difficulties staying on their feet and the ball skipped and slid a lot.”
Clinging to the 1-0 halftime lead in this match-up of Interscholastic Athletic Conference foes, Dryden tried to maintain its advantage only to have Union Springs score the equalizer five minutes into second-half action. Ilsias Vasquez found the net to tie the match at 1-1 for the Wolves.
The Purple Lions continued to attack. Mike Harvey sent a shot towards the Union Springs goal. The ball deflected and Nostrand got a foot on the ball and placed into the net for the winning margin.
Dryden held a 21-3 advantage in shots, but Wolves goalkeeper Cody Halverson kept his team in the match with 11 saves. Haile Cutter made two saves for Dryden.
l In Class D boys play, second-seed and IAC Small School overall champion Marathon (14-2) will host 10th-seed Roxbury Friday in a 3:30 p.m. quarterfinal match. Roxbury’s Rockets advanced Tuesday with a 1-0 upset victory over seventh-seed Davenport (9-5-2).
IN SECTION 4 GIRLS’ PLAY —
Dryden High gets going in the Class B tournament today at 3:30 p.m. The third-seeded Purple Lions (14-1), fresh off a victory over Elmira Notre Dame to win the overall IAC Large Schoolcrown, will host sixth-seed Chenango Valley (5-6-2).