In the lead-up to Tuesday night’s key late-season showdown, the Marcellus and Westhill boys soccer teams faced some serious tests, especially the Mustangs as it faced back-to-back games against major Class A title contenders.
The Mustangs first encountered East Syracuse Minoa last Monday night. After starting 9-0 and getting to no. 9 in the state Class A rankings, the Spartans had dropped back-to-back 1-0 games, one of them to Jamesville-DeWitt, who just happened to be Marcellus’ opponent on Wednesday.
Further prolonging the Spartans’ scoring drought, the Mustangs won yet another 1-0 decision, the lone goal for either team coming in the second half, when David Bosak, taking a pass from Alec Matysuk, pushed a shot past ESM goalie Ryan Cacace.
It was one of the few real chances in a game where the defenses clamped down for long stretches. In particular, the Mustangs were stingy, holding the Spartans to just three shots that Sam Hayduke had to scoop up.
J-D, who had overcome a 1-6 start to climb to the .500 mark, would host Marcellus two nights later, and the Mustangs could not get the same result as it did with ESM, though it did rally to force overtime before falling to the Red Rams 3-2.
Trailing 2-1 at halftime, Marcellus pulled even thanks to Con Clarke, who earned one goal and assisted on the other, by Nate Kellar. David Bosak assisted on Clarke’s tally and Hayduke was superb in the net, earning 14 saves. Jacob Brazie had two of J-D’s three goals.
Meanwhile, Westhill, thanks in large part to its recent stretch that included an overtime win over two-time defending Section III Class B champion Skaneateles, had risen to no. 8 in the state Class B rankings – and almost as quickly fell from that perch.
The Warriors need two overtimes to edge past Fowler 1-0 last Tuesday afternoon. Through 80 minutes of regulation and one 10-minute extra period, neither side gave way despite equal amounts of chances as the goalies, Westhill’s Antonio Scrimale and Fowler’s Budda Lamichane, each had seven saves.
But in the second OT, Bernat Carbonell saved Westhill by putting home an unassisted goal to win it, so the Warriors maintained its recent momentum into Thursday’s game against Solvay, which did not require any extra soccer.
Westhill beat the Bearcats 5-0, and again Carbonell was at the forefront, netting a three-goal hat trick as the Warriors were up 4-0 by halftime. Braeden Elmer had one goal and one assist, with Brad Zell getting the other goal as Tim Carkner picked up two assists and Jack Miller added an assist. Solvay goalie Joe Guadagnolo had 20 saves.
Another tough non-league game loomed Saturday against New Hartford, but Westhill won it 3-1, This followed win over Chittenango by that same 3-1 margin the day before Carbonell again carried the load with two goals in the first half and another in the second half for a hat trick, Miller assisting on two of those scoring plays.
Marcellus then played Chittenango on a rain-soaked Saturday and pulled it out, 1-0. They were still scoreless in the second half when Marcellus broke through thanks to Caleb Weatherell’s goal, assisted by Nick Distefano. The Mustangs held the Bears to just four shots all afternoon.
Solvay had a fun non-league game at Oneida last Monday afternoon, where the Bearcats it got the early edge and then withstood every comeback attempt by the Indians to pull out a 4-3 victory.
Staked to a 2-1 halftime lead, Solvay twice had to answer Oneida on the board, doing so as Jordan Devereaux picked up a pair of goals and Nazar Trut got one goal and one assist. Shahab Obadi also found the net. Solvay goalie Joe Guadganolo made six saves.
Just 24 hours later, the Bearcats hosted Cortland, a team that had beaten Jordan-Elbridge 3-0 the day before on goals by Will Pace, Chris Tanner and Mike Anecelle, with Alex Myers getting two assists.
Not getting the same result, Solvay topped Cortland 3-1, all of the goals coming in the second half. Trut, Obadi and Mike Tomoroska each put in a goal as Nate Kosecki contributed an assist. Despite Myers’ goal, the Purple Tigers could not keep up.
J-E lost, 5-1, to Cazenovia on Thursday, getting on the board with Ethan Smith’s goal, assisted by Nick Sherman, but overwhelmed by an early Lakers scoring blitz as its record fell to 3-9 and its post-season hopes dimmed.
Max Bondgren and Matt Frost combined for 12 saves. Ryan Modzeleski led Cazenovia with two goals and one assist as John Williams and Burke Regan each had one goal and one assist.
