Victorious start for Purple Lions

Cortland Standard

DRYDEN — It was a step closer towards another team goal for the Bennett Sisters and their talented teammates as Dryden High advanced to the Section 4 Class B soccer tournament semifinal round Wednesday night with a 2-0 victory over Chenango Forks at Tompkins Cortland Community College.
Already winners of a coveted Interscholastic Athletic Conference Large School Division overall crown, the high-scoring siblings will lead the third-seeded Purple Lions (15-1) in their continued quest for a sectional title against second-seed Binghamton Seton Catholic (10-3-1) — a 2-1 overtime winner over seventh-seed Newark Valley — this Saturday in the Binghamton area.
Other Class B quarterfinal round winners were top-seed Oneonta (13-2), 11-0 over eighth-seed Chenango Valley, and fourth-seed Waverly (13-1-2), a 2-0 victor over fifth-seed Whitney Point.
In Class D first round action, 10th-seed South Kortright (10-4-3) upset seventh-seed Schenevus 1-0 to advance to the quarterfinal round Saturday. Second-seed Marathon (10-5) will host South Kortright Saturday at a time to be announced.
Other Class D winners included ninth-seed Davenport (11-5) over eighth-seed Cherry Valley-Springfield 2-0, fifth-seed Margaretville (12-3-1) over 12th-seed Gilboa-Conesville 2-1, fourth-seed Morris (13-1-2) shut out 13th-seed Edmeston 2-0 and sixth-seed Milford (11-2-2) dumped 11th-seed Stamford 4-1. Top-seed Downsville (12-0-2) also had a first-round bye like the Olympians.
Dryden 2, Chenango Forks 0: Taylor Bennett netted her 33rd goal of the season, which proved to be the game winner, seven minutes into second half play off a free kick by her older sister, Leighann. The freshman’s header moves her to within one goal of tying Leighann’s single-season record of 34 goals.
Later in the half, the roles were reversed. Leighann Bennett notched her 99th career goal off a crossing pass from Taylor Bennett. The senior connected on her shot from 20 yards out to make the final score 2-0.
Dryden out-shot Chenango Forks 12-3 in the second half and 15-6 for the match. The Blue Devils held the advantage, 6-4, in corner kicks.
Alissa Patte recorded four saves for Dryden. Sierra Torillo made five saves for Chenango Forks.