Still unbeaten within the OHSL Freedom division, the Christian Brothers Academy boys soccer team saw that mark take its first blemish.
And Jamesville-DeWitt was all too happy to apply that mark, going to Alibrandi Stadium on Saturday and delivering a 2-0 victory over the Brothers to gain bragging rights in this long-simmering local rivalry.
J-D had shaken off its slow start, but still was not expected to keep up with the potent CBA attack, especially on the fast Field Turf surface now installed at Alibrandi.
But the two sides played through a 0-0 first half, which only seemed to increase J-D’s confidence. The Brothers were constantly on the offensive, yet could get nothing past a stubborn Rams defense and goalkeeper Zack Tanner, who stopped all 13 shots he faced in his best varsity performance yet.
In the second half, the Rams rewarded Tanner for his great work. Austin Roney and Tom Luko both broke free and put shots past CBA goalie David Anderson, with Zander El-Hindi getting credit for an assist.
Prior to that, the Brothers closed out its September slate by taking apart Mexico last Tuesday afternoon in a 7-1 decision.
Despite rough conditions on a grass field, the Brothers wore the Tigers down, getting five unanswered goals in the second half after taking a 2-1 lead to the break.
Emmanuel Collins, with two goals, led a balanced attack where Paul Mullin, Dylan Letcher, Nolan Winderi, Will Brower and Kris Triana also scored. Brian Schwab had two assists as Joel Castellini, Joe Civello and Alex Capella joined Triana and Winderi in the assist column.
Back on Wednesday, J-D saw its own hot streak halted in a 4-3 loss to defending Class A champion Fulton.
Thanks to two goals from Austin Roney and Tom Lukow’s tally, the Red Rams took a 3-2 lead to halftime.
Fulton rallied, though, scoring twice in the second half, and it also closed defensive ranks to keep the Red Rams off the board the rest of the way. Andrew Kush, Eric Naioti, Tyler Crandell and Ryan Kesterke all scored in the Red Raiders’ balanced attack.
On the girls side, CBA ripped through East Syracuse-Minoa 6-0 on Thursday behind a virtuoso effort from Alexis Koval.
All Koval did was put together four goals and one assist, most of them in the second half as the Brothers drew clear. Caitlin McConnell and Olivia Pitonzo also scored, with McConnell adding an assist.
Two days later, as the J-D boys were beating CBA, the girls in purple ripped Mexico 8-2, as Koval continued to prove unstoppable.
All Koval did was torch the Tigers for four goals and two assists. McConnell scored twice, adding one assist, while Pitzono and Taylor Gait got the other goals. Michelle Wiese and Eva Gordon contributed assists, too.
Fittingly enough, CBA’s girls team gets to meet J-D this Saturday at Alibrandi, looking to avenge a Sept. 14 defeat to the Red Rams — and also what happened to the guys.
