CENTRAL NEW YORK – Not since 2018 has anyone beaten the Skaneateles boys soccer team in post-season competition.
As the reigning three-time Section III, regional and state Class B champions, the Lakers have shown that, even with roster turnover and a coaching change from Aaron Moss to Pete O’Connor, the high standards remain.
Whether this remarkable run continues in 2023 is very much an open question, and with many new starters on hand, Skaneateles was kept quiet on Aug. 31 in a season-opening 1-0 defeat to Utica Proctor during the Cicero-North Syracuse Optimist Tournament at the Gillette Road Complex.
They went through a scoreless first half. Then the Raiders pushed in the second half and broke the deadlock when La Eh Soe scored off a feed from Muhumud Saladi.
Though it had more opportunities, the Lakers could get none of its 11 shots past Proctor goalkeeper Ervin Ferkkic. For his part, Charles Carbonaro, taking over in goal for Skaneateles, had six saves.
Facing New Hartford a day later at Gillette, the Lakers turned it around, beating the Spartans 2-1 as two veterans, David Petercsak and Sean Kerwick, put in goals, and Carbonaro’s five saves made it hold up.
Then, in last Tuesday’s OHSL Liberty division opener against Phoenix, the Lakers got a 5-1 victory over the Firebirds, gaining a 3-1 edge by halftime and pulling away in the late going.
Marcellus, dead-set on dethroning Skaneateles in Class B, went to the Liverpool Tournament and, on Sept. 1, was humbled 3-0 by Baldwinsville in its season opener.
Despite seven saves by goalie Rory Wiley, the Bees converted once in the first half and twice more in the second half, the goals coming from Ian Price, Michael Sacco and Patrick Smith.
Just like the Lakers, though, the Mustangs would win on Saturday, topping West Genesee 2-1 as Aaron Weber got both of the Mustangs’ goals in the second half to offset a Jake McMahon tally for the Wildcats. Will Kershaw and Connor Ciola both managed assists.
Things continued to go up and down for Marcellus as it lost last Tuesday to Cazenovia, 1-0, yet another instance of one side controlling most of the tempo yet unable to convert.
All told, the Mustangs took eight direct shots, all scooped by Lakers goalie Jack Casey. With far fewer chances, Cazenovia inched in front thanks to Jaden Kaplan’s goal and then held on the rest of the way.
Bishop Ludden returned to action last Wednesday and lost, 4-2, to Tully. Goals by Jack Ruddy and Colden Sheen, each of them assisted by Max Boyea, did not prove enough as Jacob Verbanic, with two goals, paced the Black Knights.
However, the Gaelic Knights were able to edge LaFayette/Onondaga 2-1 on Saturday afternoon, a goal in each half proving enough. Ruddy and Sheen again led the way, both of them finding the net as Phil McGarvey and Jack Marvin earned assists and each of Gavin Hughes’ six saves proved important.
