CENTRAL NEW YORK – At least through the early stages of its season, the West Genesee boys soccer team is discovering how difficult it is to maintain a high stanadard once it is established.

Hosting Baldwinville amid a steady rain last Tuesday night in Camillus, the Wildcats would find itself in catch-up mode all night, unable to keep up in a 3-1 defeat to the Bees.

Not until the second half did WG get on the board, but even that didn’t prove enough as the Bees got away thanks to Ian Price’s pair of goals and a tally from Will Stevens.
The Wildcats took a 1-3-1 record into Thursday’s game at Cicero-North Syracuse, the first time the two had met since the Northstars prevailed in overtime in last fall’s Section III Class AA final.

And this time it was WG who was victorious, the 1-0 decision also turning out to be win no. 100 for Scott Fiello as the Wildcats’ head coach.

Again it proved a display of what Fiello has done so well – coach defense. WG held the Northstars to five shots, all stopped by Boston Crandall, and in the second half the Wildcats got the
only goal it needed when Christian Long converted off a feed from Devin Dantuono.

As for Bishop Ludden, it entered the week in a good mood and would close it feeling even better as, on Friday, it upended previously unbeaten Manlius Pebble Hill 3-2, one of three wins in a span of four days.

Ludden and MPH were tied, 1-1, at halftime, and though the Trojans scored again in the second half, the Gaelic Knights converted twice, Colden Sheen leading the way as he got two goals and assisted on Max Boyea’s tally.

All this started back on Sept. 9 against LaFayette/Onondaga where Ludeen edged the Lancers 2-1. A goal in each half proving enough for the Gaelic Knights, Sheen and Jack Ruddy finding the net as Phil McGarvey and Jack Marvin earned assists and each of Gavin Hughes’ six saves proved important.

Then Ludden broke out in last Monday’s 6-2 win over Mater Dei Academy, a showcase for Sheen.

Having a part in all six scoring plays, Sheen finished his career night with four goals and two assists, having assisted on both of Avery Neville’s tallies. Marvin and Jimmy Westers both assisted on Sheen’s goals.

Maintaining this torrid pace, Sheen led Ludden past local rival Bishop Grimes 4-1 last Wednesday afternoon, tacking on two more goals to go with an assist.

Only up 2-1 at halftime, the Gaelic Knights pulled away from the Cobras helped by goals from Ruddy and Boyea, with McGarvey adding an assist.

And after it beat MPH, Ludden avoided a letdown Saturday by blanking McGraw 2-0 to improve to 5-2 overall. With the Eagles focusing in on Sheen, the Gaelic Knights saw Ruddy and Westers put in goals, with Marvin earning an assist.

Jordan-Elbridge/Cato-Meridian was kept off the board in last Monday’s 2-0 loss to Fabius-Pompey, where Dana Ingersoll and Quinlan Yard put in the Falcons’ goals.

Then, in its own game with MPH on Wednesday night, Gunnard Gustafson did get a goal for the Eagles, but it lost 5-1 to the Trojans, who were led by Sam Lurvey’s pair of goals. A 6-0 loss to Canastota followed on Saturday afternoon.