CENTRAL NEW YORK – The Section III boys soccer playoffs get underway next week, and Chittenango arrives in the sectional Class A tournament knowing it is an underdog when compared to the likes of Westhill, but still has enough confidence in its own abilities.
The Bears earned a 3-0 shutout of Mexico last Tuesday night, pulling way from a 1-0 halftime advantage as Gavin Karwoski burned the Tigers, scoring twice.
Cole Thomas earned a pair of assists, with Micah Schiralli earning the other goal and Jake Wagner gaining an assist.
Then the Bears had to go face Westhill on Thursday night, the timing not great since the state Class A no. 3-ranked Warriors, who blanked its first 13 opponents, had seen the shutout streak end in a loss to CBA.
In its first game since then, Westhill contained Chitenango and prevailed 2-0, though the Bears kept it scoreless until the second half, when Eric Holstein and Max Cowin managed to put in the decisive goals.
To close the regular season on Saturday, Chittenango pulled out a 1-0 win over Fulton when Wagner scored off a pass from Landon Touchette. Logan Bronner stopped all six shots he faced.
Cazenovia, who will still be part of the sectional Class B tournament, took yet another setback last Tuesday night when the Lakers lost, 3-1, to Phoenix.
Facing a 1-0 halftime deficit, Cazenovia did get on the board with Eliot Comeau’s goal, assisted by Nat Gale. However, the Firebirds twice added to its total, negating Jack Casey’s five saves as Tyler D’Arcy, Deagan Parker and Owen Champion had the Phoenix goals.
Then, in Thursday night’s Laker duel with reigning three-time state champion Skaneateles, Cazenovia found itself on the wrong end of a 4-0 decision.
Unlike their Sept. 25 meeting where Skaneateles had to rally and win 2-1, those other Lakers were ahead start to finish. Casey had 15 saves, but a balanced Skaneateles attack, led by David Petercsak’s goal and two assists, proved too much.
Ending up with the no. 8 seed in the sectional Class B tournament, the Lakers host no. 9 seed Adirondack in Tuesday’s opening round, and a win would mean a third shot at Skaneateles in the quarterfinals Thursday night.
Up in Class A, Chittenango has the no. 9 seed, and on Tuesday visits no. 8 seed Whitesboro, looking to get a shot at top seed Westhill in Friday night’s quarterfinals.
