ONONDAGA COUNTY – Of all the area boys soccer games last week, one carried the most weight due to pass success and future possibilities.
Skaneateles and Westhill, the last two state Class B champions, met up last Tuesday night at Hyatt Stadium, mere hours after the Lakers learned that it had snagged the top spot in the initial state rankings of the fall.
What happened in the game seemed to justify that faith as Tylar Moss struck three times in the first half and Skaneateles never let the Warriors answer in a 3-0 shutout.
It took less than 11 minutes for the Lakers to earn the only goal it needed, Moss directing a well-placed header fed to him by Ethan Pickup, but that was just the start.
In the 23rd minute, the margin doubled to 2-0, this time with Owen Cheney’s pass setting up a Moss goal. And with five minutes left in the half, Moss hit on a third goal, with Aiden Donovan earning the assist.
Cruising from there, the Lakers held Westhill to three shots,
In another high-profile game last Tuesday night, West Genesee hosted Baldwinsville, and were on the brink of a full shutout before it took a 1-0, double-overtime defeat to the Bees.
All through 80 minutes of regulation, the Wildcats’ defense held up, and the first OT went without a decision, either. But with just 71 seconds left in the second OT, B’ville was able to put in the game-winner.
Maybe that had a lingering effect, for WG lost 3-1 to Henninger on Thursday night as Deric Bere led the Black Knights with one goal and one assist. Sujan Rai and Dildar Alkhiel also earned goals.
Marcellus, who lost to Westhill and Skaneateles earlier this season, roared to an 8-0 win over Jordan-Elbridge last Tuesday, paced by a three-goal hat trick (the first of his varsity career) from Ryan Constable.
Landon Kelly joined in by scoring twice, while Sam Barney, Will Kershaw and Aidan Wiley each netted single goals. Kershaw also got a pair of assists as Grady German contributed an assist.
Back home on Thursday night, the Mustangs had a rematch with Westhill, and the two sides this time played to a 1-1 draw.
Each of the goals came in the first half, with Owen Etoll finding the net for the Warriors while Ryan Constable converted for the Mustangs. The second half and 20 minutes of OT went without a resolution, largely due to Marcellus goalie Adam Sullivan making 12 saves, eight more than Westhill counterpart Brady Mannion.
Away from all this, Bishop Ludden shut out Faith Heritage 3-0 last Monday, breaking a three-game skid as Charlie Colella, with a goal and assist, paced the Gaelic Knights. Max Boyea and Sam Colella picked up the other goals.
A wild 5-5 draw with Mater Dei Academy followed on Saturday as Ludden rallied from a 4-2 halftime deficit with an all-out attack led Colella’s two goals and one assist. Goals also went to Boyea and Blake Sheen. Phil McGarvey recorded 11 assists.
At 2-2 on the season, J-E could not rise above the .500 mark last Friday, falling 2-1 to Mexico before a 2-0 defeat to Phoenix on Saturday. Solvay lost 5-1 to Phoenix, with the Bearcats’ only goal coming from Josh Chipman as Walid Sharaf picked up an assist. Sam Gonzalez recorded 15 saves.
