It’s turned into a mid-season tradition for the Skaneateles boys soccer team to welcome three quality sides to town for a weekend tournament and hand out the Finger Lakes Cup.
Play begins at this tournament on Friday at 4 p.m. with JV games at the Waterman grass fields. Then, at 5 p.m., Rochester Aquinas takes on Henninger at Hyatt Stadium, followed at 7:30 by Skaneateles against Buffalo St. Francis.
The Saturday activities start at 10 a.m. with a skills competition for varsity players. The JV games on the Waterman fields are at 11 a.m, with the varsity championship and consolation games both taking place at 1:30, the title game on the Hyatt Stadium turf.
In between all this, visiting teams will join the host Lakers on Saturday for a breakfast at Johnny Angel’s and a postgame tailgate after the tournament awards are handed out, making this a complete weekend experience for all involved.
As it happens again in 2018, the Lakers find itself in an unusual position, respected enough to garner the no. 14 spot in the state Class B rankings with its 4-1-1 start, but still vulnerable to an aggressive, attacking opponent.
Christian Brothers Academy, battle-tested early in the season by the likes of Liverpool and Westhill, arrived last Tuesday night and, despite a valiant Skaneateles defensive effort, took over late and beat the Lakers 4-0.
All through the first half, and deep into the second half, a pattern evolved. CBA would possess the ball, and pick up its pace, and every time the Lakers would clear it away.
This remained true for more than 55 minutes as the Skaneateles back line kept things 0-0, helped by goalies Owen Cheney and Andrew Neumann, who made 13 saves between them.
But once Dean Vlassis broke out of a scrum and scored in the 56th minute, things changed. In a four-minute span, CBA converted a pair of Justin Miller’s corner kicks, Dan Melvin and Tristan Kuciera getting the goals, while Matt Potenza tacked on a late goal and Jack Harrigan got an assist.
Now Skaneateles had to try and regroup for a Saturday non-league game against Carthage. In front of a Homecoming crowd gathered for the rescheduled football game against Bishop Ludden, the soccer Lakers did not disappoint, getting its own 4-0 shutout over the Comets.
For a half, Carthage kept it close, but after intermission it got away, Skaneateles having four different players – Thomas Reed, Sam Gadjo, Jack Panasci and Alex Arfeyev – get the four goals, with Tylar Moss earning two assists and Landon Hellwig one assist.
Aside from the Finger Lakes Cup, Skaneateles would have a big match Monday hosting Westhill, the two-time defending Section III Class B champions, along with a Tuesday trip to Phoenix – in all, five games in eight days.
