No matter the records or the status of the two programs, any boys soccer match between Skaneateles and Marcellus is a special occasion.
Perhaps that was why, instead of a typical weeknight spot, the Lakers and Mustangs would square off on Saturday afternoon at Hyatt Stadium, where it could draw more student and community attention without too many other sports to worry about.
It turned out to be a happy affair for Skaneateles, who struck early, and then stayed patient through a string of missed opportunities before stretching out its margin in the waning moments and taking out Marcellus 3-0.
Luke Palmer’s goal in the first half put the Lakers in front, where it stayed for most of the afternoon as Skaneateles probed and made plenty of runs, but kept getting turned back.
That was due to Marcellus goalkeeper Zhao Angotti, who dazzled with 11 saves, hoping that his Mustangs teammates could equalize. But it had just four shots for the entire game as the Skaneateles back line locked things down whenever it got threatened,
All of that Lakers patience was rewarded when Tristan Custer put in the long-awaited insurance goal with three minutes left, and then converted again in the final 15 seconds to give him two for the day. These two sides will square off again on the Marcellus turf Sept. 26, just nine days after the initial meeting.
As a warm-up for Marcellus, the Lakers rolled past Solvay 5-0 last Tuesday night at Hyatt Stadium, steadily building its attack throughout the game and getting a big night from Reggie Buell, who notched his first two goals of the season, plus an assist.
Custer stepped up, too, notching a goal and assist, while Matt Benson and Gabe Konieczny also found the net. Sam Gadjo joined Buell and Custer in the assist column, and Skaneateles took 16 shots to Solvay’s four.
Then Skaneateles welcomed New Hartford for a non-league game Thursday night, Boasting a 3-1 record, the Spartans proved equal to the Lakers throughout the evening as the two sides ended up in a 1-1 draw.
It marked the second time in a week Skaneateles had finished 1-1 with an opponent, having done the same against Westhill on Sept. 9. Here, neither team scored in the first half, and when Custer scored in the second half with Konieczny earning the assist, New Hartford converted, too, with Nick Lemire’s unassisted goal.
For the rest of regulation, plus 20 minutes of overtime, neither team could resolve it. Luke Peterson recorded six saves, half the total of 12 that New Hartford goalies Mike Nassif and Chris Ojuro had to earn to keep the game even.
The win over Marcellus left Skaneateles at 3-0-2 going into another key game on Tuesday against visiting Cazenovia, with Solvay coming in on Wednesday and games against Clarke and Goshen this weekend in a tournament at the Wright National Soccer Complex in Oneonta.
