If any boys soccer team in the area has matched Westhill’s high standards, Marcellus has done so, even if it hasn’t quite happened on a regular basis.

So it only figured that the two neighbors and rivals would face each other Saturday, and though it was a non-league game, the intensity remained the same, and the Mustangs gained local bragging rights with a 1-0 victory over the Warriors, its fourth victory in six days.

Throughout the first half, it remained a scoreless stalemate. Marcellus controlled most of the possession time, but could not put one past Westhill goalie Antonio Scrimale.

But while Scrimale made seven saves, he could not keep Mike Kent from putting in an unassisted goal in the second half that got the Mustangs in front. From there, the Marcellus defense had little trouble protecting that slim margin, holding Westhill to one shot all afternoon.

Going to Cortland last Monday night, the Mustangs proved steady and efficient, though it had to wait until the game’s latter stages to put away the Purple Tigers 2-0.

Neither team scored in the first half. And it stayed 0-0 until Marcellus, frustrated by the work of Cortland goalie Curtis Wilk (who had nine saves), finally put shots past Wilk.

Mike McNaney coordinated the effort, scoring one goal and assisting on the other, by Victor Stasyuk. Mike Melnyczuk assisted on McNaney’s scoring play, while the Mustangs’ defense held the Purple Tigers in check without any serious shots.

Just 24 hours later, the Mustangs earned another shutout, blanking the Mexico Tigers 3-0. Gaining a 2-0 edge by halftime, Marcellus saw Adam Molinari earn a pair of assists as three different players – Stasyuk, Evan Turner and Mike Kent – got the three goals. Doug LaPrease also earned an assist.

Having moved to 7-4-1 on the season and clinched a Class A playoff berth, Marcellus visited Chittenango Thursday night and got yet another 3-0 shutout over the Bears.

Up by a modest 1-0 halftime margin, the Mustangs put Chittenango away in the late going, seeing Turner, Kent and Melnyczuk earn goals, while Molinari and Stasyuk earned assists. A stingy Mustang defense did the rest, Ian LaFever only having to make four saves.

West Genesee had a chance at a big victory on Wednesday night, but could not hold on to a halftime lead in a 3-2 defeat to Liverpool.

Paul Masello and Tyler Pirro each scored in the first half, part of a surge that gave the Wildcats a 2-1 edge as Manny Castro and Brandon Fascia got credit for assists.

But WG’s defense could not hold up in the face of constant Warriors pressure. Ryan Mavretish did all he could, earning 13 saves, but Liverpool tied it and moved in front during the second half as the Warriors’ Sam Fuller scored twice and assisted on the other goal, by Jeff Meyers.

Playing again two nights later, WG found more success, beating Auburn 3-1 to get back to the .500 mark (7-7) and lock down a Section III Class AA playoff berth.

All of the goals came in the early going, with Drew Francisco scoring once and adding an assist, while Castro and Masello also found the net. Mavretish got much more breathing space, only having to make four saves.

Bishop Ludden’s busy week began last Tuesday with a tough 2-1 home win over Faith Heritage, a game where Daniel Jackson’s goal had the Saints even with the Gaelic Knights, 1-1, at halftime.

But Ludden moved in front during the second half, seeing Tom Muller score one goal and assist on the other, by Lucas Scutari, while Pat Sexton assisted on Muller’s tally. Only the work of Faith goalie Josh Welch, who had 12 saves, kept it tight.

Later, on Friday, the Gaelic Knights (8-4-2) fell to Cato-Meridian by that same 2-1 margin, Jeff Taylor getting both of the Blue Devils’ goals in the first half to help them build a 2-0 edge. Muller answered in the second half, his goal assisted by Justin Eisenhauer, but Cato held on.

Just one day later, Ludden had to turn around and face two-time defending Class C champion Fabius-Pompey, but the Gaelic Knights were up to the challenge, rising up to shut out the Falcons 1-0.

This was a showcase for Ludden goalie Adam Lockwood, who put together 10 saves, twice the total of F-P counterpart Kory Mawson. Lockwood’s tremendous effort paid off in the second half when Muller, taking a pass from Liam Katko, drilled a shot past Mawson for the game’s only goal.