By keeping itself undefeated through most of September, the Bishop Grimes boys soccer team stayed in the state Class C rankings, though it fell one spot to no. 14 last week despite a strong run.
But the Cobras would get a big challenge last Wednesday night when it visited state Class D no. 2-ranked Fabius-Pompey, who showed that the ranking was justified as, by a 3-0 margin, the Falcons handed Grimes its first defeat of the season.
Controlling matters from the start, F-P limited the Cobras to two shots, and overcame 12 saves by Grimes goalie Ethan Fritz. Addison Wallace had two of the Falcons’ goals and Jameson Andrews got two assists, with Kewan Trotman also scoring.
Two days earlier, Grimes blitzed Onondaga 8-0, though the game still close until the Cobras netted seven goals in the second half. Byam Mugushu’s big season continued as he tackled on four goals and two assists, giving him 14 goals and eight assists for the season.
Connor Alexander added a goal and assist, with three assists going to Deng Mawien as he matched Mugushu’s eight-assist total. Alex Williams and Andrew Coleman had the other goals.
East Syracuse Minoa had dipped to no. 12 in the state in Class A following its 0-0 draw with Fowler on Sept. 11. A week later, the Spartans got back in gear, beating its neighbors from Jamesville-DeWitt 2-1 on Thursday to complete a regular-season sweep of the Red Rams.
J-D made it far from easy, keeping the game scoreless in the first half and then getting on the board in the second half thanks to a goal by Connor Ball, assisted by Joe Bertone.
Yet ESM answered it, again with Kyle Scalzo at the forefront as he netted one goal and assisted on the other, by Todd Durantini. Jake Iongo assisted on Scalzo’s scoring play as the Spartans overcame nine saves by Rams goalie Logan Roadarmel.
Two nights earlier, ESM shut out Oswego 2-0. Scalzo and Ty Mulcahy scored, while Todd Durantini and Casey McGlynn earned assists as ESM overcame 13 saves from Purple Tigers goalie Josh Henry.
Then, after beating J-D, ESM handled Rome Free Academy 4-0 on Saturday, scoring three times in the first half as Scalzo got his 13th and 14th goals of the season, helped by assists from Durantini, Mulcahy and Jimmy Ferns.
J-D, meanwhile, had its own match with Oswego and pulled it out 1-0, improving its record to 3-5-1 overall.
Christian Brothers Academy made a statement in last Tuesday’s game at Skaneateles, breaking out in the second half to defeat the state Class B no. 14-ranked Lakers 4-0.
All through the first 55-plus minutes, the Brothers attacked, only to get stopped as Skaneateles goalies Owen Cheney and Andrew Neumann would combine for 13 saves.
But once Dean Vlassis scored in the 56th minute, things changed. In a four-minute span, CBA converted a pair of Justin Miller’s corner kicks, Dan Melvin and Tristan Kuciera getting the goals. Matt Potenza tacked on a late goal and Jack Harrigan got an assist.
On Thursday night, CBA handled Homer 4-1 at Alibrandi Stadium as Ben Vlassis netted two of the Brothers’ goals. Potenza had one goal and one assist, with Harrigan also finding the net as Melvin, Ayo Oguntola and Josh Hulslander each got one assist.
Manlius-Pebble Hill, who had gone through an up-and-down September, jumped back up last Monday afternoon against long-time rival Faith Heritage, who had tied the Trojans 3-3 back on Aug. 29.
The rematch went 3-0 in MPH’s favor as it wore down the Saints’ defenses and pulled away late, while getting a great effort from goalie Ezra Hanlin, who finished with 10 saves.
Overcoming 11 saves by Faith goalie Caleb Lucero, Naldo Chen scored twice, with the other goal going to Charile Mann. Jay Hoke, Charlie Gruninger and Jack Hogan had one assist apiece.
A day later, MPH fought past Stockbridge Valley 1-0. Mann’s early goal held up as the Trojans finished the first half of the regular season with a solid 5-2-1 record.
A bigger game loomed Friday against Bishop Ludden, a team Grimes had beaten the week before, and now the Trojans would beat them, too, taking a 3-1 decision by scoring twice in the second half to build upon an early 1-0 lead. Hoke had one goal and one assist, with Hogan also converting as Chen added an assist.
