By ROB JONAS

SCHODACK – Seth Roberts’ goal less than 14 minutes into the second half proved to be the difference for Maple Hill in a 1-0 victory over Catskill Tuesday, Sept. 18, in a Patroon Conference boys soccer game.

The Wildcats (4-1) made several unsuccessful pushes towards goal until Lucas Charlebois sent a through pass into the Catskill penalty box, where Roberts redirected it past Cats goalkeeper Andrew Tran inside the left post with 26:25 left in the second half.

“We came close to the goal a few times today,” said Maple Hill head coach Dan Gillespie.

Catskill (6-2) immediately applied heavy pressure on Maple Hill’s defense and got off a pair of shots that Wildcat goalie Aidan Percey deflected out of harm’s way. Percey made a diving stop with his fingertips on one shot, and he punched another over the crossbar to keep the Cats off the scoreboard.

Maple Hill buckled down after Catskill’s four-minute spurt of offensive activity and kept the Cats away from the goal.

“We’re coming along in some respects. We’re getting very good goaltending, and our defense is playing well,” said Gillespie.

Catskill assistant coach Bill Fitzmaurice said the Cats have been battling the injury bug the last couple of weeks, which has sidetracked the team after a 6-0 start.

“You’d like to come out with a win, but they responded well when they got down,” said Fitzmaurice, who was filling in for head coach Dennis Statham Tuesday.

Photos by Rob Jonas