Whatever happens to the Marcellus boys soccer team as it navigates through the Section III Class A playoffs for the first time, it has already found unqualified success as it made an undefeated run to the OHSL Freedom National division regular-season championship.
But the Mustangs still wanted local bragging rights, so it met up with long-time rival Skaneateles last Saturday night in game that, while fun and competitive, also got both sides ready for the post-season gauntlet.
It didn’t quite work out, as Marcellus lost, 2-1, to Skaneateles. Cold, windy and wet conditions didn’t deter an all-out effort that saw the Mustangs move in front early in the first half on a goal by Adam Molinari, assisted by Mike Kent.
Skaneateles quickly tied it, though, as Eli Goodell put in the goal off a feed from Sam Duggan. Then, a Mustangs foul inside the 18-yard box led to a penalty kick that Jack Bailey converted, and the Lakers moved in front.
For the rest of the game, Marcellus kept Skaneateles from adding to that margin, but its own attack was thwarted, held to just four shots.
Marcellus finished its undefeated league run (the Freedom National division included Cortland, Chittenango and Mexico) by taking on Homer last Wednesday night and hanging on for a tough 2-1 victory over the Trojans.
Having beaten Homer 3-0 in their first encounter on Sept. 18, the Mustangs would find the rematch a closer call, netting the lone goal of the first half, and answering in the latter stages when Martin Toszer put the Trojans on the board.
Ross Filtch assisted on both goals – one by Victor Stasyuk, the other by Adam Molinari – and the defense did the rest, mostly keeping Homer in check as goalie Ian LaFever only had to make two saves all night.
Westhill, meanwhile, readied for the post-season, and the defense of its sectional Class B title, by hosting Jordan-Elbridge last Thursday night, a game the Eagles had to win if it wanted to advance to the sectional tournament.
But the Warriors weren’t sympathetic, beating J-E 5-1, mostly on the basis of a strong first half where it bolted out to a 3-0 lead.
Michael Robinson, with a goal and two assists, and Tyler Rolince, who scored twice, led Westhill’s charge, while Jake Etoll and Carter McMahon also scored. Kyle Rey added an assist as J-E’s Russell Hines broke up the shutout in the second half, his goal assisted by Nick Falcone. J-E goalie Max Bondgren had six saves, the same total as Westhill counterpart Ethan March.
The Warriors were lucky to catch J-E playing back-to-back games, as on a wet Wednesday night the Eagles turned back Bishop Grimes by a score of 2-1 to move to 6-9 and keep those flickering playoff hopes alive.
Goals by Falcone and Javier Wood pushed the Eagles to a 2-0 lead on the Cobras by halftime. Grimes tried to rally, as Dan Ostaszewski scored in the second half, but J-E held on behind six saves from Bondgren.
J-E didn’t make it – but Westhill, as the reigning champs, will work out of a no. 6 seed, having to meet no. 11 seed Lowville in the opening round in order to get to Saturday’s quarterfinal against no. 3 seed Clinton.
Meanwhile, in Class A, Marcellus also starts out as a no. 6 seed and also plays in the first round Wednesday, hosting no. 11 seed Oneida to see who gets to visit no. 3 seed New Hartford on Friday in the quarterfinal round.
