Dolphins hold off Rams

SPRINGFIELD - It wasn't a question of surviving the cold for Mosley on Tuesday night. It was a matter of surviving Rutherford.

The Dolphins were in control on the scoreboard, but it was the Rams who were the aggressors throughout much of their District 2-5A boys soccer match at the Vera Shamplain Sports Complex. Rutherford applied steady pressure after moving within one goal, but Mosley managed to escape by the same margin, 4-3.

"Rutherford played with a lot of determination and put pressure on us," Mosley coach Marek Betkowski said. "We were up (by two goals) three times and they came back each time."

Mosley held a 2-1 advantage at halftime on goals by Zach DeVaux and Brad Gatta, who dribbled to the right corner and angled the ball over Rutherford goalkeeper John Jones. Gatta's score made the tally 2-0 in the 14th minute, but Rutherford's Corey Robertson, open most of the match due to a lack of Mosley marking, responded a minute later on Aaron Fulks' assist.

Betkowski expounded on the importance of keeping up the attack when holding a two-goal lead. He told the Dolphins (4-2-1, 1-1-1) that opponents are most vulnerable after being scored upon, and that if you can keep a team off the scoreboard for at least 10 minutes afterward, you have a good chance of winning.

It came down to exactly 10 minutes, when Josh Williams turned a deflection off Mosley goalkeeper Warren Fleer into a goal. Robertson, who Betkowski noted made things happen even without the ball, started the scoring play on a free kick that curved over a Mosley wall, out of Fleer's grasp and then into the net from Williams' foot.

Rutherford had several chances down the stretch, but none were converted. The Rams (2-3, 0-3) finished with 18 shots, with Fleer making 11 saves. Betkowski and the Dolphins, who had 20 shots, sweated the final minutes, but held on.

"We had every opportunity to win this," Rutherford coach Michael Brown said. "But you have to stick it the net and we couldn't do it."

Williams narrowed the gap to 3-2 midway through the second half, 10 minutes after Stuart Branstetter gave Mosley a two-goal edge on Andrew Beasley's assist. Mosley's Graham Ball notched a score and a 4-2 Mosley lead on Mark Grant's assist nine minutes before Williams capped the scoring.

For Mosley, it was not only a district win but also a key Bay County victory. Tallahassee soccer teams are still the class of the district, so the county race takes on special significance each season.

"This is a way where we can gain points in two competitions," Betkowski said. "It's important to win these county matches, and with us winning so many titles all the teams are playing their best to beat us."

Brown downplayed the county aspect of the match, but added he's anxious for the Jan. 9 rematch.

"It's going to be good to get another shot at these guys," Brown said. "We'll look forward to it."

Mosley won the JV match 5-1. Jamison Hall scored three goals and had an assist for Mosley (5-2-1), while Jeremie Murray and Jeremy Pitts had a goal apiece. Pitts and Matt Perles had an assist each and goalkeeper Josh Duncan stopped three shots.

Casey Long scored Rutherford's lone goal.

Mosley hosts Arnold on Thursday. Rutherford entertains Tallahassee Lincoln on Monday.