Published October 13, 1981

LIBERTY - The Liberty Indians are in the process of building a girls soccer program, a boys soccer program, and a football program. All three are in the first few years of development, and despite weak showings in the win loss column seem to be progressing on schedule.

The girls won their first Western Sullivan League game last week, and that came following a 1-0 victory over Wallkill in a non-league game the day before.

Head girls coach Janet Babicz does not have a great deal of players out for the team, which makes the job that much more difficult. Nevertheless, the Indians are learning and have been playing some good soccer. The scores have been close in most of their games.

Penny Pshonick just recently became the goalie for the Indians and has been picking it up quickly. Linda Gozza and Denise Rojas are the offensive standouts for the girls while Connie Taylor has been doing a consistent job at halfback.

The boys soccer team, in only its third year, plays in the Mid-Hudson Athletic League and has had its problems winning this year. There has been a lot of improvement in the team, and many of their losses are due directly to inexperience.

They have some good athletes on the team and are working towards cutting down their mistakes and working as a cohesive unit.

Eric Goodstahl, as goalie, seems to be gaining confidence and coming into his own according to his coach, Les Pomeranz while Mitch Juron and Brian Kellam, among others, have been improving with each game.

The 1981 football team won its first game last week. They beat Red Hook 16-5. The following week, last Saturday, they lost to Highland 32-0. However, although the score was high, the game was not as bad for the Indians as it seemed.

Fumbles and the inability to convert the key fourth down situations stymied the Indians all afternoon. Although they were able to move the ball they just couldn't get it into the end zone. That has been one of their troubles all season long and that is the mark of inexperience.

Like the boys soccer program, football is only in its third year. The mistakes which they are making should be expected. The job of the coaching staff, headed by Ed Riente who took over this year from Floyd Emery, is to cut down on as many of those mistakes as possible. Unfortunately only game experience teaches players how to do that.

Liberty is getting stronger with each game and isn't that far away from a winning season.

They have a heads up, smart ball player in quarterback Sid Jackson, who is only a junior. They have a good running back in Joe Buck, who is presently recovering from an injury. They have some good linemen led by Dean Smith at center and a good end in Joe Fields. Both offensively and defensively they have an outstanding athlete in Tom Hurbanek, also only a junior.

All three sports at Liberty are suffering growing pains which are indigenous to developing programs. But fans, coaches and players should always try to keep that in mind. And that with any new program it needs to be nurtured by support.