What the Cazenovia boys soccer team hoped for was that the effort it put out Oct. 10 in a 4-2 road victory over Skaneateles would translate into a strong final week of the regular season that, by the end, produced an OHSL Liberty National division regular-season title.
That Skaneateles game, played at Hyatt Stadium, was a confidence-booster, since Skaneateles entered it holding a no. 13 state Class B ranking, an 11-3 record and also owned a four-game-win streak.
None of that helped against Cazenovia’s star forward, Joe Spires, who constantly burned the host Lakers’ defense and ultimately produced a three-goal hat trick.
Chase Willard earned the other goal, with Bryan Roca picking up an assist. Though Tylar Moss and Jack Donovan scored for Skaneateles, Cazenovia goalkeeper Ethan Baker turned away 10 other shots.
Now Cazenovia would venture to Whitesboro, looking to avenge a 3-0 defeat to the Warriors on Sept. 27. And it nearly did so, but the Lakers fell just short in a 3-2 defeat to the Warriors.
Brian Pezzi proved the focal point for Cazenovia’s attack, not only netting a goal, but assisting on Spires’ tally. Nick Gugino also picked up an assist.
A bigger game followed on Thursday night, the Lakers against state no. 14-ranked Marcellus in a game moved to Chittenango High School’s turf field after all of the heavy midweek rains that inundated the Sean Googin Sports Complex.
But the change of venue did not bother Cazenovia one bit as it got a 3-1 victory over the Mustangs that helped clinch, for the Lakers, the OHSL Liberty National division regular-season championship.
It was tied 1-1 at halftime thanks to Matt Kershaw’s goal for Marcellus, but Cazenovia went in front in the second half as, Spires tacked on two more goals, with the other going to Max Michael. Charles Aronson contributed an assist.
Chittenango had its own challenge last Tuesday when it faced state no. 20-ranked Westhill, and while it did get on the board, the Bears still lost to the Warriors in another 3-1 decision.
Then, on Friday, the Bears faced state Class C no. 6-ranked Bishop Grimes, and scored twice in each half, yet still was unable to overcome a slow start on defense as it lost 6-4 to the Cobras.
The 4-2 deficit Chittenango faced by halftime made the ultimate difference, though Sean Larsson did net a pair of goals and single goals went to Arthur Paul and Abraham Alpuerto, with assists credited to Mikel Pascual and Anthony Roberts.
Ultimately, Grimes’ start duo of Byam Mugushu and Deng Mawien subdued the Bears, Mugushu pouring in four goals and one assist as Mawien earned the other two goals.
Still, the Bears’ 9-6-1 mark meant a Section III Class B playoff berth as a no. 8 seed, playing at home this Wednesday against no. 9 seed South Jefferson, the winner to get either top seed General Brown or Holland Patent in the quarterfinals.
As for Cazenovia, its 12-4 mark translated into a no. 5 seed. If the Lakers defeated no. 12 seed Lowville in Wednesday’s opening round, it could face no. 4 seed Westhill. who has to get past no. 13 seed Oneida, in the quarterfinals, bringing the two sides that have battled in the sectional final each of the last three years (won by the Warriors each time) together two rounds earlier.
