Through five games, and five lopsided victories, the Chittenango girls soccer team had not faced serious stress.
All of that changed, though, in last Monday night’s visit to Alibrandi Stadium, where Christian Brothers Academy had the Bears in trouble before a late comeback and a goal in overtime produced a 4-3 win over the Brothers.
No one on Chittenango’s defense could contain CBA forward Kennedy Paciaga, who twice found the net in the first half, helping the Brothers move out in front 2-1.
Paciaga added a third goal for the hat trick in the second half, yet did not get much help from her teammates, and that proved the difference.
The Bears tied it, 3-3, by the end of regulation, and then scored in the first OT period. Hanging on from there, Chittenango needed every bit of the 10 saves that goalie Cassidy Kelly produced.
Sarah Martin scored twice to lead the Bears’ attack. Maryanna Garcia and Brooke Walters had the other goals, with Ally Shoemaker getting credit for an assist.
This was just the first of four tough road games in a row for Chittenango, who now had to go to Skaneateles last Wednesday night but, once again, proved worthy of the challenge, defeating the Lakers 3-1.
No OT was required as Martin scored twice more in the second half, giving her 15 goals this season as she is already on a pace to top the 28 she scored as junior. Wagner had the other goal as Moon got two assists and Garcia added an assist.
From the start, Skaneateles had plenty of opportunities, only to get kept off the board in a 0-0 first half. Kelly’s 16 overall saves would spark Chittenango as she only surrendered a second-half goal to Maeve McNeil.
After all this, the Bears have to go to state no. 13-ranked Westhill Tuesday and state no. 10-ranked Marcellus Thursday to challenge those long-time powerhouses along with a game against Cicero-North Syracuse at week’s end.
Coming off its first defeat of the season to CBA on Sept. 12, the Chittenango boys soccer team faced another big test when it visited Marcellus last Friday, the Mustangs having knocked off no. 1- ranked and defending state Class B champion Westhill earlier in the week.
It proved too tough for the Bears, who took a 4-1 loss, the lone goal coming from Anthony Roberts, assisted by Arthur Paul.
Will Simmons was busy in the net throughout the night, recording nine saves, but Marcellus overwhelmed him as Matt Kershaw scored twice, with Tristan Jarvi and Josh Wilkinson getting the other goals.
Tuning up for Marcellus, Chittenango bashed visiting Jordan-Elbridge 7-0 last Tuesday night as three different players – Paul, Sean Larsson and Owen Bailey– produced two goals apiece.
Tom McIntosh had the other goal, also getting an assist as Callum Reed produced two assists. Noah Hardy and Alek Reymond earned one assist apiece.
Even with the loss to Marcellus, the Bears were 5-2 as it would pass the midway point of the regular season this week with games against Solvay, Mexico and Camden, all within a span of four days.
