If the version of the Cazenovia boys soccer team that toppled Westhill from the unbeaten ranks on Oct. 3 showed up in the Section III Class B playoffs, it could beat anyone.
But if the Lakers that lost to South Jefferson at home just two days after that landmark win over the Warriors showed up, it could end in one round.
Knowing what it is capable of – and what could happen if those capabilities aren’t shown on a regular basis – Cazenovia was quite dominant in last Tuesday’s trip to Mexico, where it shut out the Tigers 4-0.
Most of that margin was built in the second half, a 1-0 advantage that grew when Ryan Modzeleski took over. Modzeleski scored twice, with single goals going to Mack Naushad (his first of the season) and Zach Simms. Joe Spires added an assist.
Two nights later, Cazenovia hosted Jordan-Elbridge and put together its biggest offensive effort of the season, getting all the way to double digits in the course of a 10-0 shutout of the Eagles.
Chittenango wanted to make its own strong finish to the regular season, and had no trouble with last Tuesday night’s visit from Solvay, the Bears bashing the Bearcats 6-0.
Scoring three times in each half, Chittenango spread its production around, with Seth Spurgeon the only Bear to score twice, adding an assist. Tim Ryder had one goal and one assist, with Zach Jasmin, Tommy McIntosh and Sean Larsson also getting goals. Wes Stanton and Anthony Roberts had one assist apiece.
And this set up the Bears’ clash with Westhill, who had just scored twice in the last 26 seconds to pull off a stunning 2-1 win over Marcellus two nights earlier.
Chittenango proved quite tough, but lost, 1-0, to the Warriors. Noah Schnauffer made nine saves, stopping everything after David McPeak’s first-half goal, yet saw the Bears limited to three shots and unable to make the same kind of rally Cazenovia had pulled off the week before.
Both sides would play Saturday to close the regular season – Chittenango against Holy Cross Academy, Cazenovia against defending sectional Class A champion New Hartford – and both would win.
The Lakers had the closer call, but edged the Spartans 1-0 to finish its regular season 13-2-1, making Modzeleski’s first-half goal, assisted by Spires, hold up thanks to an airtight defense that Thomas Bragg anchored with his eight saves.
On the other hand, the Bears bashed Holy Cross 8-1, improving its mark to 11-5. Spurgeon notched a three-goal hat trick, with Ryder getting a goal and three assists. Jasmin found the net twice as Roberts earned one goal and one assist, with Billy Demand also getting a goal.
With its fast finish, Cazenovia rose all the way to the no. 2 seed when the sectional Class b bracket came out. The Lakers host no. 15 seed Holland Patent in the opening round on Wednesday night, with the winner facing Watertown IHC or Central Valley Academy in the quarterfinals.
Chittenango got a tougher draw as a no. 8 seed, which meant a first-round home game Wednesday night against no. 9 seed Camden, but a possible quarterfinal rematch with Westhill, who drew the top seed and would face Mexico first.
