None of the boys soccer teams from Jamesville-DeWitt, East Syracuse-Minoa or Christian Brothers Academy had an easy time prior to entering the Section III playoffs.
In the case of the Red Rams, it fell from no. 1 to no. 2 in the state Class A rankings in the wake of a 0-0 tie with Liverpool on Oct. 15. A week later, it would host Baldwinsville, another Class AA power – but again not get on the board in a 1-0 overtime defeat to the Bees, its first loss of the season.
Neither side generated many chances in regulation, though J-D goalie Nate Sturgeon twice made diving stops in the first half to keep B’ville off the board. Gradually, the Rams’ attack improved, peaking in overtime where it constantly moved the ball into the Bees’ end.
Doing that entailed some risk, though, and it backfired when B’ville attacked late in the OT period. With 2:49 left, Ben Ramin, off a pass from Mike Guardino, hammered a shot into the top left corner of the net that Sturgeon could not stop.
Prior to that, the Red Rams were less than dominant in last Monday’s trip to struggling Chittenango, but still shut out the Bears 3-0.
Chittenango goalie Kyle Coon made 19 saves and kept it interesting, J-D only leading 1-0 at the half. But thanks to Noel Williams, who scored twice, and Pablo Martinez, who had the other goal, the Rams got away late, its pressure finally getting to the Bears. Jimmy Fazio, Andrew Lee and Anthony Epifani each had one assist.
CBA got a strong non-league win last Monday night, edging Class AA contender Nottingham in a 1-0 match at Alibrandi Stadium.
For a half, neither side could break through. But Manny Collins broke the 0-0 deadlock in the second half, scoring off a feed from Ken Slack, and the Brothers held on behind strong work in goal from Kevin Bailey, who stopped all nine shots he faced.
From there, the Brothers edged past Fowler by that same 1-0 margin in overtime on Tuesday night. Neither side scored in regulation, Bailey recording seven saves, but CBA won it when Andrew DePerro notched an unassisted goal in the first OT.
On Thursday, CBA took a 2-1 defeat to Fulton. The Brothers trailed, 1-0, at the half, before getting on the board in the second half with Pat Pierret’s goal, fed by Andrew DePerro.
However, the Red Raiders stayed in front as Carson Vono and Jeff Waldron both scored, negating Kevin Bailey’s seven saves. Fulton goalie Tyler French had eight saves.
East Syracuse-Minoa lost on Tuesday to Fulton, 1-0, the only goal coming in the first half as Joe Sutton converted for the Red Raiders. That single tally held up, the Spartans unable to get any of its shots past Fulton goalie Tyler French, who made nine saves.
But the Spartans edged Fowler 1-0 two nights later. Neither side scored in the first half, adding to the suspense. But in the second half Sam Baadani earned an unassisted goal, and the Spartans’ defense made that slim lead hold up, Casey Sullivan recording four saves for the shutout.
This leads to the Section III playoffs. J-D, as the top seed in Class A, will play in the quarterfinals Friday against Carthage or Cortland, while ESM, as the no. 5 seed, has to go to the north country to face no. 4 seed Indian River in that same round.
CBA, as in years past, moves up to Class AA for the sectional tournament. As the no. 4 seed, the Brothers will be at home Friday night for a quarterfinal against no. 5 seed Utica Proctor or no. 12 seed Henninger.
