It took three seasons, but the Westhill boys soccer team has climbed back to the top of the Section III Class B ranks.
Bernat Carbonell, quiet for weeks, got loud at just the right time, assisting on two goals and scoring the other to help the no. 2 seed Warriors defeat no. 4 seed Cazenovia 3-0 in Tuesday night’s sectional final at Baldwinsville’s Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium.
Only once this season did Westhill take a loss – to Cazenovia, by a 4-1 margin, on Sept. 12. While the Warriors avenged that defeat with its own 4-1 win over the Lakers a month later, it still remembered the pain of that poor first effort.
“That loss motivated us,” said senior midfielder Jon Holl.
So, having knocked off two-time defending champion Skaneateles 2-1 in the Oct. 26 sectional semifinal, the Warriors turned its attention to the other group of Lakers that had upended top seed South Jefferson 1-0 in the other semifinal.
Throughout the opening stages, Westhill patiently probed with most of the possession, but didn’t get many close-up looks against a solid Cazenovia defense.
Gradually, the pressure built, and in the 26th minute Carbonell, drawing two Cazenovia players to him, passed to Holl, who flicked a shot past Thomas Bragg that gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead.
It remained that way until deep into the second half. Westhill had a great chance to double its edge in the 50th minute, but Lakers defender Sean McNerney kicked it out of danger at the goal line with Bragg out of position.
By far, the game’s biggest play was made with 18:25 left. A series of Lakers passes led to a good header from Alex Regan – and a diving save by Antonio Scrimale, his toughest stop of the night.
Instead of a tie game, Westhill was still in front, and with 8:19 left Carbonell made a long run, again drawing defenders to him before finding Holl open near the net. Holl took the pass and converted his second goal.
“Jon was in the right place at the right time,” said Warriors head coach Tom Etoll.
Barely two minutes after making it 2-0, Carbonell scored himself, converting his 16th goal of the season. He said that massive attention from opposing defenses for weeks kept him from playing his best.
“It was a special game tonight,” said Carbonell. “I had to be faster, stronger and better than anyone on the field.”
So with a third sectional title in five years secured, Westhill will turn its attention to Saturday’s Class B regional final, where it will face Section IV champion Elmira Notre Dame at the Wright National Soccer Complex in Oneonta. A win there sends the Warriors back to Middletown on Nov. 12-13 for the state final four.
