Somewhere, someday, the Cazenovia boys soccer team will defeat Westhill when it really counts late in October or early in November, when there are post-season stakes.
The Lakers surely thought that it would, at last, do so in 2019, leading in the second half of last Friday’s Section III Class B quarterfinal, only to see that lead disappear and then suffer a 2-1, double-overtime defeat to the Warriors.
So much of what happens in an event like a sectional tournament can hinge on where a team is seeded – but also on events beyond the control of some of the key participants.
These playoffs offered a classic illustration of this situation. Cazenovia was the no. 5 seed, but that didn’t do the Lakers any favors because it lined them up to face no. 4 seed Westhill in the quarterfinals – the very same Warriors team that beat them each of the last three sectional finals, along with a regular-season meeting in September.
All those previous losses created immense hunger for Cazenovia, and for a half and more, payback seemed possible.
Netting the only goal of the first half, Cazenovia had Joe Spires, in the 17th minute ,pass to Jake Scherrer, who flung a shot home. Meanwhile, a steady Lakers defense made Westhill work every time it had the ball.
As they moved to the second half it stayed 1-0, but the Warriors stayed patient and pulled even, 1-1, sending this sectional game beyond regulation.
One 15-minute sudden-victory overtime passed without a resolution. And the two sides were inching toward penalty kicks, which the night before had taken out state no. 6 ranked Fayetteville-Manlius when it lost to Liverpool.
Only when a Warrior corner kick got found its way past several Laker defenders and past Ethan Baker did Westhill survive, having seen Philip Bogan and Will Delano get the goals.
This was set up by lopsided opening-round games as Westhill dimissed Oneida 5-0 and Cazenovia, playing on Wednesday night, rolled past no. 12 seed Lowville 7-0.
It got off to a late start due to bus issues for Lowville, but the Lakers were unfazed, quickly moving out in front thanks to Shaun Zampetti’s goal, assisted by Max Michael, and another tally from Brian Pezzi.
Joe Spires, who earned the assist on Pezzi’s goal, helped Cazenovia pull away by notching three consecutive goals in the second half for the hat trick, followed by goals from Aiden Emhoff and Nash Scanlon.
Had the Lakers beat Westhill, it may have dealt with Chittenango in the sectional semifinals. The Bears were was the no. 8 seed, putting them in a position to have to face top seed General Brown, except that the Lions never even got past the first round.
GB was shocked at home by no. 16 seed Holland Patent in a 1-0, double-overtime decision, opening up the bracket for the Bears, who had not erred at home as it defeated no. 9 seed South Jefferson 3-1.
Rushing to a 2-0 halftime advantage, Chittenango saw Abraham Aluperto earn a pair of goals,w ith Sean Larsson also finding the net. Arthur Paul got the other goal as the Bears ultimately took 17 shots to the Spartans’ four.
Now Chittenango stayed at home for Saturday’s ectional quarterfinals, attempting to prevent another upset from Holland Patent 0 which it did with relative ease, getting a 6-1 victory over the Golden Knights
This time it was Larsson at the forefront, netting a three-goal hat trick to go with an assist. Paul and Tom McIntosh each had one goal and one assist, while Aaron Strickler got the other goal. Anthony Roberts and Austin Srickler picked up assists.
So in Wednesday’s sectional Class B semifinal at Fayetteville-Manlius, the Bears will try to do what Cazenovia could not – topple Westhill – with the prize a berth in next Monday’s sectional final against Clinton or Skaneateles.
