Storm keeper Brandon Kneale prepares to stop a shot Central Valley’s Keegan Case during Saturday’s championship game. Kneale came up big for UV over the weekend and was named to the All-Tournament team. (Evening Sun Photo, Meagan Schulz)

Host Marauders drop both games

SHERBURNE – The Unadilla Valley Storm beat the Central Valley Academy Thunder, 2-1 to win the Sherburne-Earlville Labor Day Weekend Soccer Tournament after trailing 1-0 early due to a penalty kick conversion by the Thunder’s Keegan Case in the first five minutes of play

The Storm, however, rallied back.

Attempt after attempt, UV’s shots sailed just wide of the net. Keeping the pressure on the CVA’s defense for the remaining moments of the first half, Unadilla Valley’s Devon Fairchild brought a ball up the right side of the pitch and netted the game’s equalizer – and his first goal of the season – with four minutes showing on the scoreboard.

A second half that saw many opportunities for both sides, was only capitalized by the Storm as Dylan Nichols tapped an end-line pass from Fairchild for the game winner.

The Storm defense held strong, keeping the Thunder to their lone goal from the first half. UV’s head coach Ryan Houck credited the scoreless final 21 minutes to the solid play from defensive players Cameron Osborne, Shawn Contreras, Caleb Parker and keeper Brandon Kneale.

Sherburne-Earlville and Unadilla Valley both opened their 2019 campaigns in a intra-county matchup for the first round of the tournament. Coming down to a penalty kick shootout to determine who advanced into the championship game, the Storm’s soccer club advanced for a chance at the tournament crown on Nichols and UV’s final attempt.