ONONDAGA COUNTY – Now the East Syracuse Minoa and Christian Brothers Academy boys soccer teams both found themselves entrenched in the top 10 of the state Class A rankings.
More importantly, the two sides were approaching a possible showdown for the Section III Class A championship – one where it did not have to worry about Jamesville-DeWitt.
During Thursday’s trio of sectional quarterfinals, the no. 3 seed Red Rams saw its season conclude when it fell in a dramatic battle with no. 6 seed Watertown.
The two sides were scoreless until the second half, when the Red Rams got on the board with Emile Antoine’s goal, assisted by Alessio Vega, but the Cyclones’ Seth Chartlon converted, too, meaning the game would spill into overtime.
Two full OT periods did not settle the outcome, meaning the season hinged on penalty kicks. And it was Watertown getting the best of it, getting shots past Sam Allen, who had nine saves on the day.
So it was Watertown advancing to the semifinals next Tuesday at Fayetteville-Manlius Stadium – where CBA, the no . 2 seed, awaits them.
All the Brothers did in its sectional quarterfinal at Alibrandi Stadium was jump on no. 7 seed Fulton with six first-half goals on the way to an 8-0 win over the Red Raiders.
No less than 12 different CBA players earned at least one point on the night as only Jack Griffith scored twice, tacking on an assist.
Will Harrigan had a goal and assist, with Andrew Kohlbrenner, Sam Carrick, Sravan Kodali, Luke DeLorenzo and Tom Leskoske also finding the net. Santiago Betancourt-Trompa had two assists as Connor Morgia, Bruce Broadwell, Juliuz Pichardokmp and Zack Mulhern also got assists.
A far closer game was played at Spartan Stadium where top seed and defending champion ESM had to go all 80 minutes against no. 8 seed Indian River in order to claim a 2-0 victory.
The single goals from Evan deBerjeois and Behudin Malkic, with Joel Alvarez getting an assist, were more than enough thanks to a Spartans defense that never let Indian River get too many good chances.
ESM will take on no. 4 seed New Hartford in the semifinals, also Tuesday at F-M, with those other Spartans having routed Central Square 5-0 to get this far.
