With all the phases of its game clicking into place at just the right time, the Skaneateles boys soccer team moved within a victory of repeating as Section III Class B champions.
The no. 3 seed Lakers continued its mastery over Westhill in Thursday night’s Class B semifinal at Cicero-North Syracuse’s Bragman Stadium, defeating the no. 2 seed Warriors 3-0.
In three meetings this season, Skaneateles allowed just one goal to Westhill and never lost to them. They played to 0-0 draw in intense heat and humidity on Sept. 5, and then the Lakers won 2-1 on Oct. 1 on Westhill’s home turf, only allowing a goal on a Mike Lantry penalty kick.
Weather rose to be a factor again when the forecast of rain and high winds forced Section III official to postpone the game for 24 hours, but it did little to deter Skaneateles.
Again, the Lakers’ defense would prove first-rate in this sectional semifinal. Reece Eddy, Luke Palmer, Matt Benson, Sam Duggan and the rest of the back-line players interrupted Westhill every time it got near the net, and goalkeeper Sam Smith only had to make three saves.
By contrast, Skaneateles had a consistent, patient attack that caused Westhill problems from the outset. It didn’t result in any first-half goals, but the Lakers certainly noticed that Warriors goalie Antonio Scrimale often drifted far out of the net to meet the ball.
They were still 0-0 when, less than seven minutes into the second half, Scrimale again rushed out of the 18-yard box to Dylan Viscomi, just as Matt Neumann was passing the ball Viscomi, situating on the right side.
With a deft touch, Viscomi lobbed the shot over Scrimale’s reach, and the ball kept rolling on the C-NS turf into the net for the only goal that the Lakers would need.
Four minutes later, though, Scrimale again got caught out of position, and this time Matt Benson made him pay for it with a touch shot from the left side just inside the right post, assisted by Sam Clymer.
Even with that two-goal cushion, Skaneateles kept attacking, and converted off a set piece with 2:50 left as Jack Bailey’s free kick got poked into the net by Reggie Buell.
In order to get that second straight sectional title, the Lakers will need to get past top seed and state no. 4-ranked Lowville in Monday’s Class B final at Fulton, which kicks off at 5:30.
Unlike Skaneateles, Lowville had to endure a stressful sectional semifinal, squandering a 3-1 second-half ead to no. 4 seed Marcellus, but pulling it out 4-3 on Caden Laribee’s goal with 39.4 seconds left in regulation.
