CENTRAL NEW YORK – High emotions and high intensity always mark the boys soccer rivalry between Marcellus and Skaneateles, but they were cranked even higher by the circumstances of last Tuesday’s clash at Hyatt Stadium.
The game fell 10 years to the day after Kevan Busa, a 2008 Marcellus graduate who is an assistant coach on the Skaneateles staff, received a bone marrow transplant.
Busa had been diagnosed with leukemia. He underwent four months of chemotherapy that, combined with the bone marrow, ultimately saved Busa’s life.
Now as he planned to coach against his alma mater (also the alma mater of Sknaeateles head coach Pete O’Connor), the teams got together before the game to give Busa a commemorative ball. They also held a post-game party to honor him.
As to the game itself, it proved to be a typical battle as Marcellus, who had risen to no. 5 in the state Class B rankings, had few real chances, but played effective defense to thwart Skaneateles as the game ended in a 0-0 draw.
A majority of the 80 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime was spent in the Mustangs’ end as the Lakers forced the issues, leading to many corner and free kicks along with long throws from Case Keenan.
By having a host of defenders well marked, Marcellus turned away everything, rarely allowing goalie Matt Bartolotta to deal with difficult chances.
In fact, the best chance either team had came on a Mustnags counterattack late in the first half. Ryan Constable’s pressure forced Lakers goalie Evan Wingfield to mishandle the ball and Wingfield had to sprint back to the goal line to grab it and prevent a go-ahead goal.
These same two teams meet again at Marcellus Oct. 13, which might or might not settle matters.
Meanwhile, Skaneateles moved on to face Mexico Thursday and broke out with its best offensive performance of the season during an 8-1 romp over the Tigers.
Away from all this, Westhill, who was no. 2 in the state in Class B but fell back to no. 20 after it lost to Marcellus on Sept. 20, took another step backward with a 3-0 defeat to Christian Brothers Academy.
Proving why it had the no. 16 spot in the state Class A rankings, the Brothers went in front early, then added to it in the second half by converting twice more.
None of the Warriors’ eight shots got past CBA goalie Finn Wheeler as Connor Morgia, with one goal and one assist, led the Brothers’ attack, Tom Leskoske and Zack Walma getting the other goals.
Another shutout followed on Friday, but Westhill was on the right end of it, edging Watertown 1-0.
The Cyclones, 7-2 going into the game, contained the Warriors most of the way, but that only came after Hasan Altheblah took a pass from Luke Gilmartin and netted the game’s only goal. Westhill’s defense held Watertown to just four shots all game.
