CENTRAL NEW YORK – Sure, the head coach was new for the Skaneateles boys soccer team, but his face was familiar, as were the results – at least until a main challenger cooled things down.
Choosing to stay within the program, the Lakers tapped long-time assistant Pete O’Connor to succeed Aaron Moss on a side that, with Moss at the helm, won three state Class B championships, including a perfect run to the title in 2021.
Already, though, it’s apparent that the path to a championship in 2022 will be a lot tougher, based alone on the fact that Westhill showed up at Hyatt Stadium last Saturday and, in a clash of unbeaten sides, won a tense 1-0 decision.
Strong defense marked the occasion, with the Warriors able to keep Skaneateles off the board and getting the one goal it needed when Luke Infanti found the net.
With several key players, including Tylar Moss and Owen Cheney, gone from the state championship team, Skaneateles carried some mystery into its Sept. 1 opener against Auburn, but got to the win column again, beating the Maroons 1-0.
Sound on defense, the Lakers controlled possession and limited Auburn to a single shot. And the only goal that was needed came when Jack Phillips, off a feed from Wyatt Langford, produced what proved to be the game-winner.
Against Rochester Aquinas last Wednesday, the Lakers again found itself in a close contest and again pulled it out, getting a 3-2 victory over the Irish.
Here it was Phillips twice putting shots in the net as Langford picked up two assists. David Petercsak also had a goal, and Evan Wingfield, proving himself in the net as Luke Renaud’s successor in goal, stopped nine of the Irish’s 11 shots.
Westhill, on the way to that win at Skaneateles, had already beaten General Brown on Aug. 30 when it followed up three days later with a 3-0 win over Rome Free Academy.
Eric Holstein, with one goal and one assist, led a well-balanced Warriors attack. Emmet Starowicz and Josh Gratien had the other goals, with Max Cowin picking up an assist.
Another shutout followed last Tuesday, Westhill topping Phoenix 4-0 in a game where it scored three times in the second half to pull clear of the Firebirds
.
Starowicz got a pair of assists as four different players – Holstein, Gratien, Owen Etoll and Luke Gilmartin had the goals, Holstein and Gilmartin also getting assists.
Moving to 3-0 on Thursday, Westhill handled Solvay 6-2, the Bearcats still getting goals from Sam Gonzalez and Sam Chapman as goalie Redd Long recorded 19 saves.
Marcellus, who struggled plenty in 2021, made an emphatic opening statement on Sept. 2 when it took apart Cazenovia during a 7-1 romp over those other Lakers.
All game long, the Mustangs’ Ryan Constable torched Cazenovia’s defense, finishing his day with a career-best four goals and adding an assist.
Bob Moses helped, too, converting twice, while Landon Kelly had the other goal. Austin Raicht got two assists as single assists went to Jacob LeFever, Tristan Baker and Sam Barney.
Marcellus then beat Mexico 6-0 last Tuesday, led this time by Kelly, who landed his own three-goal hat trick as Constable, Connor Ciota and Andrew McCaffrey also scored. Raicht again had a pair of assists, with single assists going to Will Kershaw and Joe Murray.
Now, in an early-season OHSL showdown with Christian Brothers Academy Thursday night, the Mustangs put up a strong effort, yet took a 2-0 defeat to the Brothers.
Marcellus took nine shots, all stopped by CBA goalie Finn Wheeler. For his part, Robert Bartolotta recorded six saves, only to have the Brothers net one goal in each half as Connor Morgia and Santiago Betancourt-Trompa converted.
