High School Boys Soccer
Monroe-Woodbury ends Newburgh’s unbeaten run, 2–0
Francisco Cordova De Alba scores both goals — the second on a free kick he had to take twice — as the Crusaders hand the Goldbacks their first loss and move alone into first place in Section 9 Division I.
Photos — 845 Sports Rewind Staff · Click here for photos from the game ↗︎
NEWBURGH — Newburgh Free Academy had not lost a match all season. Monroe-Woodbury needed one player to change that.
Francisco Cordova De Alba scored both goals Wednesday afternoon as the Crusaders beat the Goldbacks 2-0 at Newburgh, ending an 11-0 start and moving into sole possession of first place in Section 9 Division I.
Cordova De Alba struck once in each half. The second is the one people will remember. Awarded a free kick, he buried his first attempt — only for the officials to order it retaken. Handed the ball a second time, from the same spot, he scored again.
That made it 2-0, and Newburgh never found a way back.
The Goldbacks had their looks. Yahir Hernandez tested the Monroe-Woodbury keeper more than anyone on the field, and Justin Saravia, Kevin Meza and Giovanny Ochoa all got efforts on frame. None of it beat a Crusaders defense that has given up four goals all season.
Much of that work fell to Liam McGee. The Monroe-Woodbury captain was everywhere in front of his own goal, stepping across to meet crosses and clearing danger before it could settle at a Newburgh player’s feet. The No. 20 kept the ground in front of his keeper swept clean all afternoon.
The result reshapes the division. Monroe-Woodbury is 6-0 in Section 9 Division I and 10-1 overall, winners of nine straight since a one-goal loss at Shenendehowa on Sept. 12. The Crusaders have outscored opponents 41-4 this fall.
Newburgh, unbeaten at 11-0 coming in, drops to second in the division. Matt Iorlano’s Goldbacks had gone the whole fall without losing. The first blemish came on their own field.
Both teams are back out quickly. Monroe-Woodbury visits Valley Central on Friday at 4 p.m. Newburgh travels to Albany on Saturday for an 11 a.m. start.
But the date circled on both calendars is Tuesday, Oct. 20. That is when Newburgh goes to Monroe-Woodbury for the rematch — first against second, 13 days after this one, with the division likely riding on it. The Goldbacks will have had two weeks to sit with this result. The Crusaders have not lost at home all season. Something gives.
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