The confidence gained by Jamesville-DeWitt’s girls soccer team in the wake of its sweep of the Marcellus Tournament, where it blanked West Genesee and Westhill by a combined 9-0 margin, carried over when OHSL Freedom division play resumed.
During Tuesday night’s visit to Cortland, the Red Rams jumped out to a big early lead and cruised the rest of the way, defeating the Purple Tigers 6-1.
By halftime, it was already 4-0, and J-D was spreading its production around. Alex Catanzarite and Amber Hyatt both produced a pair of goals, with Hyatt adding an assist. Paige Sherling and Alex Epifani had the other goals as Epifani joined Allie Balotin and Sophie Dimkopoulos in the assist column.
Even more production was found on Thursday afternoon, when the Red Rams hosted Oswego (like Marcellus, a new member of the OHSL Freedom division) and bashed the Buccaneers 9-0.
Already with a comfortable 3-0 margin at halftime, J-D scored six times in the ensuing 40 minutes, and what made it even better was the Rams continuing to showcase its depth.
Seven different players scored a goal, with only Catanzarite (who also had two assists) and Sherling finding the net twice. Ciara Norris contributed a goal and two assists. Caroline Kopp had a goal and assist, while Hyatt, Riley Foti and Angela Bussone notched goals, too. Brinley also picked up an assist.
East Syracuse-Minoa, needing a spark following an 0-2 start, received it from Claire Maring and Lauren Ott, who led a second-half comeback last Monday night to push the Spartans past Mexico 4-1.
Despite controlling the flow of play, the Spartans trailed, 1-0, thanks to Amylyn Holland’s first-half goal for the Tigers. But once ESM got on the board, more production followed as Maring scored twice, with Ott adding one goal and one assist. Julie Steinhauer had the other goal.
Now finding its form, ESM made it back-to-back wins on Thursday afternoon, handling Homer in a 3-0 shutout that, like the Mexico game, featured some early struggles before the Spartans took off in the second half.
Marissa Greiner sparked the surge, putting in one goal and adding an assist. Maring and Natalie O’Brien also found the net, with ESM’s defense clamping down on the Trojans, only allowing three shots.
