CENTRAL NEW YORK – Sitting at no. 4 in last week’s state Class AA rankings, the Christian Brothers Academy boys soccer team did not slip in either of its matches late last week.
The Brothers took a while to get going in last Thursday’s game against Chittenango but, led by Connor Morgia, it managed to tame the Bears 4-0.
CBA only led 1-0 at the break, but Morgia was unstoppable, helping his side convert three more times and finishing with two goals to go with assists on tallies by Juliuz Pichardo-Kemp and Rico Petrosillo. Zack Walma also had an assist as Ryan Petrie stopped all eight shots he faced, Chittenango goalie Logan Bronner recording 17 saves.
A far tougher test loomed Saturday, and not just because of the rain. CBA was opposed by Henninger, who sat at no. 15 in the state Class AAA rankings and had held its own quite well against large-school competition all season.
Knowing this, the Brothers produced early, Morgia netting one goal assisted by Caleb Buddie and then assisting on Petrosillo’s tally, all that was needed in a 2-0 victory over the Black Knights.
Staked to that early margin, CBA’s defense stepped up, breaking up many Henninger rushes, and when they didn’t do so, Petrie was able to record nine saves.
Manlius Pebble Hill, who had gone 3-3 after a 4-0 start, won three times last week to get back on track, capped by Saturday’s soggy 4-1 victory over its neighbors from Bishop Grimes.
The Trojans went up 2-0 by halftime and kept going late, spreading its attack around. Four different MPH players – Sam Lurvey, Andy Lurvey, Nick Lurvey and Jacob Temes – earned goals, with Dash Goode getting two assists.
Back at the start of the week, the Trojans leaned heavily on Sam Lurvey in last Monday’s 4-2 victory over Phoenix.
Lurvey had a natural hat trick by halftime, MPH establishing a 3-0 advantage, and then tacked on a fourth goal to thwart a Firebirds comeback as Nick Lurvey assisted on two of the goals. Abe Solamon was solid in the net, recording 10 saves.
Facing Bishop Ludden a day later, MPH trailed at halftime, but rallied to win it 2-1 and avenge an earlier 3-2 defeat to the Gaelic Knights.
It was Nick Lurvey, along with Brody Cook, netting the goals that fueled the comeback, Oliver Hewett adding an assist. Each of the eight saves put up by the Trojans’ other goalie, Liam Allen, made a difference.
Bishop Grimes took a 3-0 defeat to state Class B no. 15-ranked Solvay last Tuesday afternoon. The Bearcats held the Cobras to just three total shots as Ole Matyiuk, Josh Chipman and goalie Redd Long each had conversions.
Then, in Wednesday night’s 3-1 loss to Jordan-Elbridge/Cato-Meridian, Grimes did get a goal from Cooper Boots, but the Eagles answered it with two goals from Josh Macarchuk and another from Gonzalo Garcias-Vinas.
