Ideally, the Cazenovia boys soccer team would enter the Section III Class B playoffs as a talented and prominent top seed, ready to welcome a hapless opponent to the Sean Googin Sports Complex and then take them out.
Well, that did happen – but not in Cazenovia.
Choosing to move last Friday’s Class B quarterfinal against no. 8 seed South Jefferson to Morrisville State College, the displacement didn’t bother the Lakers one bit as it struck quickly and never let the Spartans get comfortable in a 4-0 victory.
Cazenovia was well-rested, thanks to a week of recuperation and a well-deserved first-round bye. But it didn’t overlook South Jefferson, who had bashed Canastota 5-0 in the opening round of the sectional tournament and harbored upset dreams.
It didn’t take long for the Lakers to dash those dreams. Before the game was nine minutes old, it was already 2-0, Cazenovia finding the net on goals from Cole Willard and Tyler Modzeleski.
That was more than enough for the Lakers’ defense, who protected its own territory and never let goalkeeper Garrett Clabeaux sweat that much.
Meanwhile, following that early burst, Cazenovia’s attack was quiet for the rest of the first half, and deep into the second half, too, before Mason Stehle found the net in the 52nd minute. Barely 10 minutes later, Ryan Modzeleski became the fourth different Lakers goal-scorer as Burke Regan and Eli LaGorga joined Willard and Tyler Modzeleski in the assist column.
This sent the Lakers into the Class B semifinals against no. 4 seed General Brown, who took out Holland Patent 3-1 in its quarterfinal. The winner moves on to the sectional championship game against no. 2 seed Skaneateles or no. 3 seed Clinton.
