Soccer semifinals draw big crowd at Eddie Collins Park

MILLERTON — The parking lot overflowed Sunday afternoon at Eddie Collins Memorial Park for the men’s regional semifinal soccer matches.

Dover’s team ultimately defeated Torrington after a 2-2 result in regulation play then it was undecided after a 30-minute overtime. In a shootout, Dover prevailed 4-2.

Torrington (red/blue jersey) hits traffic.Photo by John Coston

In the next match, Millerton took the field against Pawling, with Pawling winning 4-1. The final will be played on June 22 at 2 p.m. with Dover v. Pawling. Millerton will play Torrington at noon for the third place title.

A follow-on season will start and run to August 28 with 12 teams, up from eight.

Sunday’s matches attracted many soccer fans, who filled the bleachers on both sides of the pitch and lined up on the sideline in fold-out chairs. There was a busy food-court scene between the parking lot and the field, with an aroma of papas fritas drifting over the field.

Millerton’s goalie goes airborne.Photo by John Coston

Teams include two from Millerton, and six others from Brewster, Pawling, Torrington, Dover Plains and Millbrook.

The league pays the Village of Millerton $100 for use of the field on Sundays and $250 for police coverage during the matches. On Sunday, Officer Erik Breen was on duty.