This was, for the Cazenovia and Chittenango boys soccer teams, an opportunity to knock off a state-ranked opponent as both would make their way to Hyatt Stadium to face the Class B no. 13-ranked Skaneateles Lakers.
Cazenovia went with far more confidence, mostly based on its 5-1 win over the Bears on Oct. 2. More than a week later, it headed for its Laker duel and remained in terrific form, doubling up the hosts and prevailing 4-2.
Chittenango had gone first against Skaneateles last Tuesday night, and it turned into a lively affair, though the Bears had to take a 2-0 defeat.
As so many other times this season, it was Tylar Moss, getting the Lakers in front. Off a feed from Brendan Powers, Moss dribbled around a Chittenango defender and putting a low shot past Will Simmons in the 15th minute.
The Lakers nearly built on that margin, only to have owers twice denied by great stops from Simmons. Then the Bears’ Sean Larsson nearly tied it twice, slightly off target on a free kick and having another shot bang off the crossbar.
So it was still 1-0 when, less than five minutes into the second half, Owen Chaney was left alone near the net and, taking a pass from Moss, doubled the Lakers’ margin.
Were it not for Simmons making 15 saves, it might have got more lopsided. Aside from Larsson’s mid-game chances, Chittenango rarely threatened, managing just three shots for the night.
As Cazenovia took on Skaneateles, Chittenango was at Phoenix, where it let out its frustrations from its previous outing on the Firebirds on the way to an 11-3 victory.
It was 5-0 by halftime and the Bears did not let up, Larsson working his way to four goals by game’s end as O Bailey found the net twice.
Brian Schermerhorn and Maahudial Islam each had one goal and one assist. Noah Hardy, Luke Dahlin and Anthony Roberts also scored, with Callum Reed getting two assists. Single assists went to Tom McIntosh, Mikel Pascual and Abraham Alpuerto.
Cazenovia faced two tough games in the final week of the regular season, trying to avenge a 5-1 defeat to Whitesboro on Tuesday and then hosting Marcellus Thursday night.
Chittenango’s challenge involves going to reigning state Class B champion Westhill Tuesday and facing state Class C no. 5-ranked Bishop Grimes on Friday afternoon.
