Now that it firmly occupied the top spot in the OHSL Liberty division, the Marcellus girls soccer team knew that it would get firm challenges from every single opponent in every single venue, home or away.
So it could not have surprised the Mustangs to find itself trailing Cazenovia at halftime last Tuesday afternoon at the Fenner Street complex. It took patience, and a great second-half effort, to get a 2-1 victory over the Lakers.
Even though it had the bulk of the scoring chances in the first half, Marcellus could not put a shot past Laker goalie Jamie Enders. Meanwhile, a rare Cazenovia attack in the 33rd minute led to a goal as Kaitlyn Button converted.
So, facing that 1-0 deficit, the Mustangs continued to probe, ultimately earning 14 corner kicks (as opposed to the Lakers’ one), but its comeback came from different scoring plays.
In the 52nd minute, goalie Nicole Fletcher (who combined with Sophie Jackson to make 14 saves) sent a long pass that found a streaking Jessie Nye. Going in one-on-one, Nye flicked a shot past Enders to tie it, 1-1.
There it remained, as the tension built, until the waning stages of regulation. With 3:50 left, Marcellus earned a free kick, Kathryn Busa took it — and hit a hard shot that found the top of the net, putting the Mustangs in front for good.
On Saturday, Marcellus faced another close call — and again came out in front, going all 80 minutes to earn a 1-0 decision over the Fulton Red Raiders.
Both sides had lots of chances in a wide-open contest, but it remained 0-0 into the second half. A sound Marcellus defense, plus the work of Jackson, who had 12 saves, kept the Mustangs’ shutout going.
Still, a goal was needed — and Nye gave it to them. Early in the second half, Molly MacLachlan struck a good corner kick that Nye headed into the net, and that would hold up the rest of the way, sending the Mustangs’ mark to 9-1.
With the no. 8 spot in the latest state Class B rankings, the Mustangs play at Skaneateles Wednesday night.