One more dose of summer-like warmth and sunshine descended upon the Sean Googin Sports Complex in time for the Cazenovia boys soccer team’s 2012 Section III Class B playoff debut.
Sporting the no. 2 seed, and well-rested after a first-round bye, the Lakers are pursuing history, having never won a sectional title before. Then again, this Cazenovia team has already broken a 27-year drought without a league title, so perhaps more milestones lie ahead.
For now, the Lakers’ task was simply to make it past no. 7 seed Sherburne-Earlville in the Class B quarterfinal. With one last chance to play on its home field, Cazenovia took full advantage, easily making its way past the Marauders 3-0.
It was Brody Kellish and Kevin Porter leading the charge as the Lakers battled its way to a 2-0 halftime lead over S-E and tacked on one more goal after the break.
Kellish scored once and assisted on the Lakers’ other two goals. Porter chimed in with one goal and one assist, while Conner Polsin also found the net.
Try as it could, the Marauders’ attack never could muster much of a challenge against Cazenovia’s air-tight defense, as goalie Chris Matteson only had to handle the ball a handful of times.
This sends Cazenovia into the Class B semifinals, where it will face no. 3 seed Skaneateles, as those other Lakers needed a goal late in regulation to get past South Jefferson 1-0 in its quarterfinal game on Saturday night.
Having gone 1-0-1 in two previous meetings with Skaneateles this season, Cazenovia has to deal with them once more, with the prize for the winner a date with Westhill or Clinton in the sectional finals.
