Staying at home last week, the Cazenovia boys soccer team continued to rampage through its opponents, including one reigning Section III champion.
Bishop Grime claimed the sectional Class C title one year ago, but that mattered little to the Lakers, who ripped past the Cobras 8-1 last Tuesday at the Sean Googin Sports Complex.
True, Grimes was hit hard by graduation, which took away stars like Deng Mawien, Byam Mugushu and Jack Gutchess, but Cazenovia did not let this fact deter its efforts.
Up 5-0 by halftime, the Lakers did not let up until it had six players in the goal-scoring column, with only J.D. Dolly and Tristan Alvisi finding the net twice.
Single goals were credited to Eli Gifford, Michael Senehi, Jackson Wright and Andrew Lee, while Lucca Ferreira, Max Michael, Gannon Houghton, A.J. Rothfeld and Ben McPherson each finished with an assist.
It figured to get tougher when Cazenovia hosted Faith Heritage two days later, and the Saints proved that point, handing the Lakers its first blemish of the season by prevailing 3-1.
Other than Houghton’s goal, assisted by Michael, Cazenovia was contained, and Faith Heritage used goals by Fred Jackson, Joe Capone and Jeremiah D’Imperio to go in front, plus a superb effort in the net from Caleb Lucero, who stopped 14 of the Lakers’ 15 shots.
Chittenango will get its opportunity to take down Cazenovia this Saturday. In the meantime, the Bears claimed a pair of shutouts, staring with a 2-0 decision over Tully last Tuesday night, with a single goal in each half all that was needed.
Jacob Scheidelman and Aiden Adams earned the goals, with Connor VanDee getting an assist. None of the Black Knights’ five shots made it past Bears goalie Will Simmons.
When the Bears had its own game against Bishop Grimes on Thursday, it was far closer than Cazenovia’s encounter, but Chittenango still held off the Cobras 1-0.
Arthur Paul earned the game’s only goal, assisted by Nate Dziedzic. This, along with six saves by Simmons, produced a shutout as Grimes goalies Joel Fasama and Greg Docos combined for 10 saves.
