Though the Skaneateles boys soccer program contains a rich history that includes plenty of championship banners and an undefeated run to the state Class B title in 2010, it managed to pull off something rare in Monday night’s Section III Class B final at Fulton.
By defeating top-seeded, state no. 3-ranked Lowville 3-0, the Lakers earned its first-ever back-to-back sectional titles since 1980-81, peaking at just the right time as it never allowed a single goal in any of its three sectional games.
“We really started playing well the last few weeks,” said head coach Aaron Moss, crediting the Lakers’ schedule, which included five Class AA opponents and one Class A opponent, with steeling them for the post-season gauntlet.
When compared to his 2014 state final four team, said Moss, “these kids are more battle-tested. As a result, we were more prepared for physical play.”
Lowville, riding a 17-game win streak following its season-opening defeat to Cazenovia, offered challenges both physical and mental, especially when it came to containing a high-octane attack that scored 12 total goals in playoff wins over Canastota and Marcellus.
Skaneateles was more than ready for it, though. Between them, Sam Duggan, Luke Palmer, Shawn Palmer and Reece Eddy took turns frustrating the Red Raiders’ forwards, rarely giving them space to operate.
And that defense triggered attacks on the other end. Skaneateles has as well-balanced an offense as a top-flight team can offer, with 10 players earning four or more goals this season, but none of them having more than seven.
Fittingly, three different players netted the three goals against Lowville. Having missed many other early chances with wide and high shots, the Lakers broke through late in the first half when Reggie Buell flicked Jack Bailey’s free kick past Red Raiders goalie Andrew McLean.
But it was Sam Clymer, a returning senior from last year’s championship run, who, along with Dylan Viscomi, made the game’s biggest play two minutes into the second half.
With the Lakers still clinging to a 1-0 lead, Clymer chased down a long pass from midfield and ran down to the left corner, almost by himself, with several Lowville defenders surrounding him. Then Clymer crossed to the middle, where McLean tried to grab it, but could not and, instead, Viscomi, charging up the middle, flicked a shot into the net.
Barely three minutes later, another Laker duo stretched the margin to three. Matt Benson managed to keep the ball inbounds along the goal line left of the net before turning around and offering a perfect pass to the middle, where Matt Neumann fired in the goal.
Lowville didn’t give up, and had all kinds of chances in the last 20 minutes to make things closer. But senior goalie Sam Smith, quiet most of the night, made at least three spectacular stops.
This preserved a Skaneateles shutout streak that spans five-plus games, all the way back to the second half of an Oct. 10 defeat to Amherst (Massachusetts).
Now the Lakers (14-4-1) go back to the state tournament, where it faces Section IV champion Chenango Forks in Saturday’s regional final at Chittenango High School.
A win gets Skaneateles back to the state final four on Nov. 14-15, and back to Middletown, where it lost last year to Mattituck 6-0, a game that still rankles the Lakers.
“They’ve had a sour taste in their mouths for 12 months,” said Moss.
Clymer put it another way. “We have unfinished business,” he said. “(After 2014), we’re hoping to do a little better this year.”
