Firmly established atop the OHSL Liberty division standings, the Marcellus girls soccer team still had some serious work to do before the league title was secure.
One of those major tasks was going to rival Skaneateles last Wednesday night – but again the Mustangs were up to it, working its way to a 3-1 victory over the Lakers.
For its seventh straight league win, Marcellus had to work through a first half where, for the most part, it saw opportunities slip away as the game remained 0-0.
But in the 31st minute, all that changed when Jessie Nye burst open and pushed a shot past Skaneateles goalie Mary Buck. That 1-0 edge would stay until halftime.
Marcellus continued the assault in the second half, making it 2-0 in the 48th minute as Emily Pawlewicz put home the goal. Barely seven minutes later, the Mustangs were fouled inside the 18-yard box, and Nye slid the penalty kick past Buck to build the margin to 3-0.
Diane Vitkus would put the Lakers on the board with 7:52 let, but that came too late. A steady Mustang defense nearly got it shutout as Nicole Fletcher and Sophie Jackson combined for seven saves.
Due to scheduling conflicts, the Marcellus boys soccer team would have to wait for its second shot at state Class B no. 1-ranked Skaneateles until the tail end of the regular season.
But the Mustangs didn’t have to push back last Tuesday’s match with Jordan-Elbridge, and it moved above the .500 mark for the moment by routing the Eagles 9-1.
A modest first half saw Marcellus move ahead 2-0, but it really started to convert after the break. Keeenan Vaughn, Cal Filtch and Nate Waite each finished with two goals, while Chris Manke and Allan Donahoe also converted. Andrew Forward notched J-E’s lone goal in the second half.
Marcellus opened its own tournament on Saturday afternoon, losing a narrow 1-0 decision to Clinton. The only goal came from the Warriors’ Cory Gleasman in the 65th minute as Will Smiegal earned the assist. Mitch Schoenbrun, in defeat, earned seven saves.
After Monday’s consolation game against New Hartford (who lost 1-0 to Red Creek in the other part of the opening round, the boys Mustangs (5-5-1) visit Cazenovia on Wednesday. Marcellus has its girls team host Jordan-Elbridge and Solvay this week.