If a pair of early-season defeats had humbled the Westhill boys soccer team, it had also made them hungry to prove again that they had championship quality.
To that end, the Warriors swept a Sept. 15-16 weekend tournament at the Wright National Soccer Complex in Oneonta, prevailing 5-2 over Troy Catholic and then edging Jericho 3-2 in overtime.
Against Troy Catholic, Westhill scored all five of its goals in the first half, two of them by Bo BenYehuda as Reilly Sizing, Braden Krzykowski and Adam Robinson also found the net. Charlie Bolesh, Mack Etoll and Patrick Coman had one assist piece.
To beat Jericho, a traditional Long Island power, Westhill led 2-1 at halftime, but the Jayhawks tied it in the second half, leading to an OT where the Warriors gained the game-winner. BenYehuda, Bolesh and Adam Herne had the goals, with Phillip Bogan adding an assist.
Back in Central New York two days later, Westhill took out Mexico 6-0, Herne scoring twice to lead a well-balanced attack.
BenYehuda had one goal and one assist, with David McPeak getting two assists. Bolesh, Nick Rosati and Eamon McPeak earned the other goals as Etoll, Justin Ristoff and Rusden Bryant gained assists.
Marcellus, no. 11 in the latest state Class B rankings, roared past Blessed Virgin Mary 7-1 last Tuesday, David Bosak at the forefront thanks to a three-goal hat trick, plus an assist.
Sean Libera scored twice and added an assist as single goals went to Tristan Jarvi and Hugh White. Jarvi also had an assist, joining Brett Beal and Bryce Kelly in that column.
A far tougher game loomed on Friday as the Mustangs faced Cazenovia, and amid high winds the Mustangs’ defense struggled early in the second half, the key factor in a 4-2 defeat to the Lakers.
They were tied, 1-1, at halftime, but with the wind at its back the Lakers struck twice just after intermission on back-to-back goals by Joe Spires, who would finish with a hat trick. Bosak and Dakota Baker scored for Marcellus, with Ryan Lundrigan getting an assist.
West Genesee broke out of a mini-slump last Monday with a 2-1 win over Corcoran, as Ryan Washo notched one goal and assisted on the other, by Ricky Francisco. Justin Klaczko assisted on Washo’s tally
Then, visiting Nottingham Friday night, the Wildcats and Bulldogs played to a 1-1 draw. Washo’s first-half goal, assisted by Francisco, was matched by one from Matt Houck in the second half. Zach Bolton, with nine saves, kept things even through the rest of regulation and overtime.
Bishop Ludden gained some major momentum last Wednesday when it defeated Tully 1-0 in overtime. Over the years, these OHSL Patriot division finals had engaged in plenty of good matches, as was this one.
For 80 minutes of regulation, neither the Gaelic Knights nor Black Knights could get on the board, Ludden anchored by Josh Bianchi’s seven saves until the first OT period when Liam Casey, off a feed from Michael Gaughan, put in the game-winner.
Two days later, at Manlius-Pebble Hill, Ludden lost, 3-1, to the Trojans, Jack Moen scoring in the second half off a feed from Antonio Scutari, but the Gaelic Knights otherwise shut down as Jay Hoke led MPH with one goal and one assist. Bianchi made nine saves.
Already during the week, Jordan-Elbridge had played Cazenovia, falling 4-1. Mike Meyer had the Eagles’ lone goal and Keegan Ferris made 18 saves as Trey Schug led the Lakers with two goals and one assist.
Then J-E turned around Thursday and got a 2-1 win over Phoenix, with goals by Meyer and Kevin Chiaramonte as Cole Mullen and Zach Fabreze picked up assists. Each of the nine saves Ferris made proved important.
