Though it’s not relying on one or two superstars, such as a Tessa Devereaux or a Jessica Holmes, to produce most of its goals, the Jamesville-DeWitt girls soccer team might prove more effective with having a whole host of contributors to the attack.
Among other things, what this depth gives the Red Rams is a confidence that, eventually, it will put goals on the scoreboard, which has allowed it to withstand a series of major challenges in the first half of the regular season and reach 9-0.
Those challengers include East Syracuse-Minoa, who took a second shot at J-D last Thursday afternoon and, once again, played on even terms for a long while before seeing the defending Class A champions pull away and prevail 3-1.
When these two teams first met Sept. 3 at Spartan Stadium, ESM dragged the contest to overtime before J-D pulled it out, 2-1, and the rematch followed a similar course in the first half, each side scoring once as Julie Steinhauer scored for the Spartans, assisted by Marissa Greiner.
Yet in the second half, J-D broke through against ESM goalie Amanda Goodhines, who still made eight saves, but she and the Spartan defense could not keep track of all the potency in the Rams’ lineup.
Midfielder Paige Sherling, forward Alex Catanzarite and defender Caroline Kopp each found the net for J-D, and Kopp, anchoring the Rams’ defense, made sure the Spartans did not respond.
Another example of J-D’s depth was last Tuesday’s 6-0 shutout over Mexico, where the Rams were both productive (three goals in each half) and diverse.
Six different J-D players – Kopp, Allie Balotin, Ella DiGiovanni, Erin Brinley, Amber Hyatt and Sarah Marron – produced the six goals, with Sherling and Julia Slisz getting credit for assists.
J-D was even earning victories off the field as Rebecca Peter, the team’s long-time assistant coach and a teacher at J-D Middle School, was named as the 2013 New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AHPERD) Central North Zone Teacher of the Year. She’ll be honored at a dinner Nov. 7 at the Rusty Rail in Canastota.
ESM had a non-league game at Solvay last Monday night, staying patient early and pulling away late to beat the Bearcats 3-1.
Only 1-1 at the half thanks to a goal by Solvay’s Nicole Antonacci, the Spartans clamped down on defense the rest of the way, giving ESM ample time to get back in front – which it did.
Greiner, Natalie O’Brien and Lauren Ott each had a goal for ESM, with Steinhauer, Claire Maring and Caitlin Gagen picking up assists. Goodhines blanked Solvay in the second half and made four saves overall.
A night later, hosting Cortland, ESM again started slowly, but kept it 0-0 until a big second-half surge overwhelmed the Purple Tigers and produced another 3-1 victory.
O’Brien scored again, as did Gagen and Sarah Britton, with Ott, Steinhauer and Hailey DeVona each producing one assist as the Spartans delivered the same scoring balance it showed against Solvay. Goodhines was busier, but stopped seven of eight shots she faced.
ESM, is home next week for games against Fulton and Chittenango. J-D, who had its game with West Genesee rescheduled to Oct. 7, also plays Fulton this week after first taking on Cortland.
