Game after game and week after week, the Jamesville-DeWitt girls soccer team remains in top form, not taking any opponent for granted even as it gained more national respect than ever before.
Last week’s USA Today/United Soccer Coaches Super 25 poll had the Red Rams at no. 14 to go with a no. 1 state Class A ranking, and nothing it did last week should allow for any regression.
A good example of J-D’s relentless dynamic was last Tuesday’s game against Oswego. Though comfortably ahead and never in any danger, the Red Rams still piled up six goals in the second half to rout the Buccaneers 8-0.
Grace Dimkopoulos and Lindsey Hildreth led J-D’s well-balanced attack, each scoring twice. Single goals went to Tonia Kousmanidis, Megan Baker, Sydney Baker and Nina Dermody (her first of the season) as defender Grace Bridge contributed an assist.
What followed, in Thursday night’s match at Auburn, was a far more difficult match, but J-D got through it, claiming a 2-0 decision in its closest score so far.
Auburn’s defense did an effective job most of the night limiting the Rams’ opportunities. But with J-D’s defense effective, one goal in each half proved enough as Dimkopoulos and Kousmanidis scored, with Megan Baker adding an assist.
East Syracuse Minoa had limited J-D to three goals when they met on Sept. 12. Five days later, the Spartans hosted Central Square and again were kept off the board in a 1-0 defeat to the Redhawks.
It took a late goal by Central Square’s Emma Herrmann to decide matters, along with stellar work in the net by Redhawks goalie Samantha Haley, who stopped all 12 shots she faced. ESM goalie Isabelle Chavoustie recorded seven saves.
Another close defeat followed on Thursday, ESM nipped 2-1 by Cortland, despite the fact that the Spartans had far more opportunities. Angelina Polcaro had ESM’s lone goal, with Purple Tigers goalie Marissa Gilmore carrying her side by earning 14 saves.
Christian Brothers Academy got a hat trick from Kennedy Paciaga and nearly ended Chittenango’s five-game win streak last Monday night at Alibrandi Stadium before the Bears rallied to prevail 4-3 in overtime.
Twice in the first half, Paciaga found the net, helping CBA to a 2-1 advantage. Another goal in the second half did not prove enough, though, Chittenango rallying to force overtime 3-3.
Then the Bears blanked the Brothers in the 20 minutes of OT, putting across the game-winner as Sarah Martin scored twice, with Maryanna Garcia and Brooke Walters also scoring. Emily Jones had 10 saves, the same total as Chittenango counterpart Cassidy Kelly.
It wasn’t as close Wednesday night at Cazenovia, with CBA falling 3-0 to the Lakers. Julia Reff’s pair of goals, each assisted by Lili Gavitt, set the tone as Gavitt added a goal in the late stages. The Brothers were held to just two shots all night.
A 2-0 defeat to Cicero-North Syracuse followed on Friday night, the game scoreless until the second half, when Victoria Iannotti and Madelyn Jackson scored for the Northstars to overcome nine saves from Jones.
Manlius-Pebble Hill had lost its first three games of the season before going to LaFayette last Monday and, finally breaking that skid, defeating the Lancers 4- 2 as it scored three times in the second half to break out of a 1-1 tie. Freshman Abigail Hinshaw led the Trojans, scoring twice.
Bishop Grimes took a 6-0 defeat to Liverpool last Wednesday night and, 24 hours later, ran into Onondaga and lost 4-0 to the Tigers to fall to 1-5 on the season. Against OCS, Cobras goalie Carrie Wilkinson finished with 13 saves.
