Mepham Falls to Calhoun 1-0 in Boys Soccer

Let the rivalry begin.

Both the Calhoun and Mepham boys varsity soccer teams wanted to get a good start in 2010. Knowing they had each other on the schedule to open Conference III play on Tuesday only raised the stakes.

Both teams rose to the occasion; playing a hard-fought scoreless match until Calhoun snatched a 1-0 victory late in the second half at Mepham High School.

After spending a good part of the match on Calhoun's end of the field, Mepham got beat on a set play when co-captain Andrew Lief took a throw-in and threaded the needle to co-captain Brian Grambo, who struck low and hard in the bottom left corner with 8:30 left in the game for the win.

"We've been practicing that play for awhile," said Lief. "So we finally capitalized on it in a game."

It was one of a handful of set play opportunities that Calhoun had over the course of the match. As the game unfolded, Mepham coach James Koester knew the game might come down to just such a play.

"Too many throw-ins, too many corner kicks, too many chances at the end," said Koester.

Calhoun coach Jim Cantley saw the same thing.

"We had a lot of chances," said Cantley. "We've been working hard on set plays. But we had a lot of hustle plays, too."

Hustle can lead to hassles. After Calhoun posted their goal; the shoves got harder, the elbows sharper, the slide tackles angrier. Cantley pulled Grambo off the field with four minutes remaining after he tangled with Mepham's Anthony Duranova at midfield.

"I just didn't want any trouble out there," said Cantley.

While the Pirates came up short, Koester was encouraged by the Pirates' performance.

"We played well. We played together," said Koester. "I was happy with the effort."

Calhoun next faces Mepham on Thursday, Oct. 7 at Calhoun High School.