Having mostly breezed through four early-season foes, the Marcellus girls soccer team knew that it was about to get a lot more challenging.
When the Mustangs faced long-time rival Skaneateles last Saturday, the Lakers were stingy for long stretches, but could not keep Marcellus out the entire match as it prevailed 2-0 for its fifth win in a row.
Constantly on the attack, Marcellus peppered Skaneateles goalie Grace Kush, who would amass 19 saves, only to give up a single goal in each half that made the difference.
Back on Monday, the Mustangs took on Altmar-Parish-Williamstown and easily made it three in a row, routing the Rebels 7-0.
Up 5-0 by halftime, Marcellus ultimately had seven different goal-scorers. Katy Wangsness had one goal and one assist, with Sara Mielnicki adding two assists. Anna Vetsch, Caroline Trytek, Lily Locastro, Alaura Cushman, Emma Garn and Sarah Hutchings also found the net.
Though it got tougher in Wednesday’s game against Homer, Marcellus blanked the Trojans 2-0, breaking through in the second half as Cushman and Hutchings scored, with Vetsch getting an assist. Only the 19 saves from Homer goalie Catherine Apker kept it close.
Getting its first big win of the season, Westhill ventured to Alibrandi Stadium last Tuesday and had to work through two overtimes before edging the Brothers 1-0.
All through the first and second half, both sides had all kinds of opportunities, yet could not cash them in. Westhill ran into a determined CBA defense and was unable to solve Abby Benware, who accumulated 19 saves.
The Brothers would have its share of chances to win, yet all 12 of its shots got scooped up by Lauren Bendall, and it stayed 0-0 through one 10-minute OT period.
Only in the last minute of the second OT did Westhill pull through, working the ball around until Ciarra Rudnick, off a feed from Sophia Caron, slipped a shot past Benware with 35 seconds on the clock.
This win wasn’t savored for long, though, as on Saturday the Warriors ventured to Chittenango, where it got pushed to overtime again and this time lost, 2-1, to the Bears.
After a scoreless first half, Caron converted to put the Warriors on the board. But Chittenango answered and, in the 20 minutes of OT, inched out in front.
Westhill had twice as many shots, only to see Bears goalie Ava Dardaris make 20 saves as goals by Ally Shoemaker and Madison Wagner overcame 10 saves from the Warriors’ Lauren Holstein.
Solvay took its first defeat of the season at home last Monday against Phoenix, a 2-1 decision where Hannah Martineau scored the Bearcats’ lone goal.
Haley Muehl had a terrific game in the net for Solvay, recording 18 saves. Still, the Firebirds overcame it because Francesca Goodell earned both of her team’s goals.
A 2-0 loss to Mexico followed on Thursday, Muehl making 14 saves, but unable to keep Grace O’Gorman from scoring once in each half to lead the Tigers along.
