Brown, Carpenter push Bath into semis
BY BOB BENZ THE LEADER

BATH - Matt Hill would have been hard-pressed to ask for a better offensive effort from his team in the opening round of the Section V, Class BB boys soccer playoffs Wednesday, Oct. 24.

In fact, the Bath Haverling head coach didn't find much of anything to fret over during the Rams' 6-1 victory over Livonia.

"Overall, as a team, we played hard for the whole 90 minutes, so I was pleased with that," Hill said.

If anything, the worrying might start now, as the thirdseeded Rams will move on to play rival and secondseeded Hornell Monday, Oct. 29 in a Section V, Class BB semifinal likely to be held at Cohocton. The two teams split during the regular season as each contest was decided by one goal.

Although Bath had swept Livingston County foe Livonia during the regular season by scores of 2-0 and 3-0, Hill and the Rams did not take the Bulldogs lightly, which showed in the team's inspired play.

"Regardless of how we did against them in the regular season, it's always a tough draw when you're getting Livonia in the first round," Hill said. "They're a good soccer team and they always play tough."

Leading the way for Bath was its attack duo of senior Justin Brown and junior Jason Carpenter.

Brown came up with a hat trick, netting three goals, while Carpenter picked up a goal and two assists.

"When those two guys are on the same page, they're real tough up front," Hill said of Brown and Carpenter. "And I thought Justin worked real hard up front and Jason had a couple of real nice individual efforts."

Carpenter kick-started the Rams by setting up each of Bath's first two goals to give the home team a 2-0 lead at the break.

The Rams got on the scoreboard a little more than 13 minutes into the contest, shortly after a direct kick.

Carpenter headed the direct kick into the front of the goal and Jon Smith pounded home the shot inside the left post.

Less than two minutes later, Carpenter sent Brown off to the races with a through pass, which Brown tracked down before beating Livonia keeper Adam Wingate to make it 2-0.

One of Bath's few blemish es came when the Bulldogs pulled to within one following

direct kick. After the kick, the ball was tipped into the air and John Conklin headed a shot into the right side of the net.

The Rams wasted little time in responding as Brown notched his second goal on a penalty kick, drilling a low liner inside the right post.

Carpenter got in on the scoring fun with a dazzling individual effort as he dribbled past a Livonia defender and drove a shot inside the left side of the net.

Brown picked up the hat trick with 32:34 left in the second half after converting a cross from sophomore Justin Sherwood.

Bob Watches set up Bath's final goal, dishing the ball back to Lucas Wales, who unloaded on a high blast from about 35 yards out.

The Rams outshot the Bulldogs 21-4 and Mike Rossi recorded the win in goal for Bath with two saves.