Having not played in 12 days, the Westhill boys soccer team nearly got upended by its neighbors from Bishop Ludden when it returned to action.
Clashing last Tuesday night, the Gaelic Knights, led by Michael Gaughan, got ahead of the Warriors, but could not hold that advantage as Westhill rallied to prevail 3-2 in overtime.
Gaughan netted the only goal of the first half, giving the Warriors its first deficit of the season after it had outscored its first five foes by a combined 31-2 margin.
But Westhill’s attack broke through in the second half, with Bo BenYehuda netting his eighth goal of the season and Jackson Powers also scoring to counteract a second Gaughan tally.
So it was 2-2 going into OT, but in the first extra period the Warriors won it when BenYehuda slid a pass to Dan Carkner, who pushed a shot past Michael Losi , Carkner’s ninth goal this fall. Prior to that, Losi had made eight saves.
Now Ludden turned around and, on Thursday night, visited Skaneateles, who broke out in a big way amid the wet conditions to defeat the Gaelic Knights 6-1 in advance of facing Westhill this week.
Building a 3-1 margin by halftime, the Lakers increased the margin behind a three-goal hat trick from Landon Hellwig and two goals and one assist from Andrew Moss.
Max Wamp had the other goal, with Aidan Chabot and Ethan Pickup each gaining a pair of assists. In defeat, Losi made 12 saves.
Prior to that, Skaneateles had blasted Phoenix 6-0, led by Landon Hellwig’s two goals and one assist. Nick Cerineli had one goal and one assist as Max Wamp, Colin Gaglione and Marcus McClanahan also scored. Aidan Chabot got a pair of assist.
Marcellus had lost each of its first three games, two of them to Skaneateles, before finally getting in the win column last Monday with a 3-2 decision over Mater Dei Academy.
Ryan Constable netted two of the Mustangs’ three goals. Marcelo Juarez had the other, with Adam Sullivan recording eight saves to overcome goals by Mater Dei’s Tom Halligan and Joe Mariani.
A day later, facing Syracuse Academy of Science, Marcellus had an easier time of it, prevailing 5-0, just before the Atoms took on Jordan-Elbridge.
Playing only its fourth game of the season, the Eagles won 2-0 over SAS, with Owen Barrigar and Sage Crawford picking up goals and assists going to Ervin Castillo and Kevin Chiaramonte. Combined, J-E goalies Keegan Farris and Jonathan Salmonsen stopped all seven shots they faced.
When Skaneateles took its turn against Mater Dei on Saturday, the Lakers won 5-0, pulling clear in the second half as Moss took charge, three times finding the net for a hat trick and adding an assist. Hellwig and Pickup also scored, with Chabot getting an assist.
