Apparently it’s in the script — the Westhill boys soccer team plays a big game, ends up in overtime and wins 3-2.
That happened three times in a span of 10 days. First, on Sept. 20, the Warriors knocked Cazenovia from the unbeaten ranks when a turnover led to Vince Scaravillo’s OT game-winner.
Then, on Sept. 25, Westhill rallied from a 2-1 deficit to Bishop Ludden in the last two minutes of regulation, then won again in OT when Aaron Hunt’s header of a Tim Murphy corner kick found the net.
Finally, in a classic Monday night at Marcellus, Scaravillo needed a hat trick, and lots of help from a gritty Warrior defense, to earn yet another 3-2 victory in the latest chapter of this fierce rivalry.
When they had first met Sept. 2, Marcellus won 2-1 — in overtime, of course, the decisive blow coming when Chris Borncamp put home a penalty kick after a foul inside the 18-yard box in the first OT period.
With the OHSL Liberty division standings tight between the two sides (plus Cazenovia, who beat Solvay 5-0 on Monday), much the same kind of drama was expected in the rematch, and delivered, though this time a penalty kick started all the madness.
Tripped inside the 18 in the 29th minute, Scaravillo converted his penalty kick with a shot to the left side of the net past diving Marcellus goalie Jon Quick. That proved to be the only goal of the first half despite a whole host of chances on both ends.
Not discouraged at all, Marcellus attacked quickly after the break and, just 1:58 into the second half, tied it 1-1 on Mark Schmidt’s goal, fed from the wing by Borncamp.
Kept on the defensive for a while, Westhill didn’t panic, maintaining the tie until Scaravillo could do something about it. In the 55th minute, he took off down the middle as Murphy dribbled down the left side, then crossed to Scaravillo, who easily beat Quick.
Now up 2-1, the Warriors went back to a defensive mode, which worked for a while — until a complete breakdown with 13:31 to play. Somehow, the Warrior defenders, plus goalie Ryan McBride, stopped and froze as Tim McNaney’s 30-yard free kick fluttered into the net, untouched.
Though both teams had good chances the rest of regulation, and attacked hard in the first 10-minute overtime period, it stayed 1-1, which only set the stage for an amazing second OT period.
In a 10-second sequence, Marcellus had three point-blank chances to win. McNaney’s first shot went hard off the right post. Then McBride dove to stop McNaney’s hard rebound for his best save of the night. Then a third shot by Jon Schoonmaker got kicked away at the last moment by Westhill defender Dylan Tripodi.
Westhill also had its own flurry a minute later, with Murphy lacing a 25-yard free kick off the crossbar and a rebound getting kicked away, too, even though Quick was out of position.
Finally, just 4:43 before the game would end in a draw, Scaravillo got loose for another run up the middle. Quick charged, but Scaravillo sent a low shot past him into the net, giving Westhill the win and a split of the season series.
Westhill returns home Wednesday to face Homer, just as Marcellus looks ahead to a key Saturday match at Cazenovia.
