CENTRAL NEW YORK – Now the Section III Class B playoffs are here, Westhill expecting to match its 2023 state Class A final four run and Skaneateles determined to regain the crown after Marcellus snatched it from them a year ago.
All of this happened as the Warriors, despite a 0-0 draw with Skaneateles the week before, made it to the top spot in the latest state Class B poll, while the Lakers were tied for the no. 20 spot.
Yet Westhill nearly got upended last Tuesday night by Christian Brothers Academy, pushed into overtime for the second game in a row but able to outlast the Brothers 2-1.
After a scoreless first half CBA struck with Zach Walma’s goal and Rocco Grotto worked his total to nine saves.
However, Westhill equaled it and, in the first of two 10-minute OT periods the Warriors would get the game-winner, having seen Cal Petrone and Eric Holstein earn the goals, with assists to Teddy DeMore and Mason Franco as Tom Hunt recorded six saves.
It only figured that the Lakers and Mustangs would meet each other in last Wednesday’s regular-season finale, and it proved quite an exciting one that mirrored the epic battle they had in the 2023 sectional final.
Here, Skaneateles had just enough to prevail 4-3, having nearly seen a 3-1 halftime lead melt away, and without Ian Thompson it’s possible that would have taken place.
Thompson led the Lakers to that early advantage and ultimately put up a three-goal hat trick, also assisting on Max Cerimelli’s goal as Heschel Eidel, Quinn Cheney and Cody Crane all got single assists.
Marcellus finally seemed to be emerging from its early-season struggles. Once 2-8, the Mustangs put together a three-game win streak that continued last Monday with a 2-0 shutout of Syracuse Academy of Science.
A goal in each half proved enough, Cameron Stojkovski and Ethan Hubbard getting those goals and Ben Locastro picking up an assist. Marcellus took 16 shots to the Atoms’ three.
Solvay met up with Chittenango last Tuesday and took a 4-0 defeat to the Bears, who were led again by star forward Gavin Karwoski.
All that Karwoski did was score three times for a hat trick and assist on his team’s other goal, by Landon Touchette. Bearcats goalie Santiago Hernandez Suraez earned 12 saves.
Then Solvay played Bishop Grimes to a 1-1 draw Thursday night, using Ali Karam’s goal, assisted by Thang Paul, to tie it in the second half after Eddie Koroma put the Cobras on the board in the first half.
