Now that Tim Madden has completed his first regular season with the Watertown boys soccer team, he can look back and say it wasn't too bad.

He wasn't so easy-going before the Frontier League season began, however.

Madden, the Cyclones' junior goalkeeper, transferred to Watertown High School after spending the previous three school years at Carthage.

He was reunited with his old teammates on Sept. 10, when the Cyclones and Comets played their first of two regular season matches. Madden had the date marked on his calendar.

"I was pretty nervous, and excited," said Madden, whose Watertown team swept the regular season series against Carthage 2-0. "I just really wanted to play well in those games, and not give them the satisfaction of knowing my weaknesses and taking advantage of them."

The timing of Madden's arrival was nearly perfect for the Cyclones. Taylor Reardon, who minded Watertown's net during last year's run to the Class AA sectional semifinals, didn't sign up for the '08 campaign.

Coach Todd Heckman first spoke with his new keeper during a summer league match. Madden told the coach he was looking forward to competing for the starting job.

"Through hard work and solid skills Tim has been able to improve game by game," Heckman said. "He battled with two other kids, and got some confidence with the his new teammates, and won the starting job."

Defense played a much greater role in this year's regular season "A" Division championship than a year ago. Graduation depleted the team of its top offensive threats, so preventing goals this fall was as much a priority as scoring them.

Madden has lived up to his end of the bargain. He has nine shutouts while making 5.6 saves per outing. Utica Proctor is the only opponent to manage as many as three goals against Madden, and he allowed only one — last week to IHC — during Frontier League play.

POSTSEASON UNDER WAY

The Frontier League playoffs kicked off Tuesday in all four divisions, and the finals are scheduled for Thursday evening at Watertown High School and Carthage Central.

The Section 3 playoffs are right around the corner, too. Teams will learn their respective seeds in each class Sunday, and action should begin by Tuesday.

Finals in all classes are set for Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at SUNY Cortland.

Sportswriter Matt Cordova covers Frontier League boys soccer for the Times. He may be reached at mcordova@wdt.net.