CENTRAL NEW YORK – A bit of a late-season push by the Marcellus boys soccer team offered the Mustangs an opportunity to end the season of one of its main rivals for the second year in a row.
In last Thursday’s Section III Class B quarterfinal it was the no. 6 seed Mustangs at Hyatt Stadium to face no. 3 seed Skaneateles, the same team it beat in come-from-behind fashion a year ago to claim the sectional championship.
But this was not 2023, something the Lakers reinforced by getting away in the second half and, by a score of 3-1, gaining at least some measure of payback.
Skaneateles had won both times they met in the regular season, including an exciting 4-3 decision just a week before their playoff showdown, where the Lakers’ defense would do a far better job.
After a first-half goal Marcellus could not get anything past a Skaneateles back line that ably protected goalie Charlie Carbonaro, who only had to make five saves.
And this time, unlike that sectional final, the Lakers kept its lead in the late going as Ian Thompson and Max Cerimeli got the goals, with Sam Ryan, Quinn Cheney and Jack Bobbett getting the assists.
They both had to win first-round games – and did so with relatively little stress as Skaneateles put away no. 14 seed General Brown 10-0 and Marcellus took out no. 11 seed Adirondack 5-0.
The Mustangs were up 4-0 on the Wildcats by halftime, all of it from the duo of Ethan Hubbard and Connor Ciota as Hubbard notched a three-goal hat trick and Ciota converted twice, adding an assist. Owen Alexander added a goal and two assists, Ben Locastsro also converting.
Up at the top seed, Westhill, still no. 1 in the state Class B rankings, had a bye to the quarterfinals, where it cruised to an 8-0 romp over no. 8 seed Little Falls.
Eric Holstein and Mariusz Sobotka each earned three-goal hat tricks, with Tom MacLachlan getting a goal and two assists. Brahim Altheblah also had two assists as Mason Franco added a goal. Single assists went to Cal Petrone and Collin Lopez.
In the sectional semifinals next Tuesday at Mexico Westhill would face no. 4 seed Cazenovia and Skaneateles would get no. 2 seed Lowville, looking to set up a final against one another Saturday at East Syracuse Minoa.
Far from all this, Bishop Ludden inherited the top seed in the sectional Class C tournament, and in the round of 16 pulled away late to beat no. 16 seed Bishop Grimes 5-0.
Having won 4-0 when these teams met in the regular season, the Gaelic Knights were patient through a first half where it built a 1-0 lead, ultimately getting clear in the last 40 minutes.
Colden Sheen scored twice, with Jack Marvin getting a goal and assist. Other goals went to Luke Ruddy and Jack Catalano, with Max Boyea contributing an assist.
Saturday’s quarterfinal had Ludden against no. 8 seed Waterville, and with a big first half the Gaelic Knights got all it needed for yet another shutout, this time by a 3-0 margin.
All of the goals came in those first 40 minutes, with Jack Ruddy the focal point as he scored twice and also assisted on Sheen’s goal. Jack McMahon also earned an assist, setting up Ludden for Wednesday’s sectional semifinal against no. 4 seed Fabius-Pompey, who needed penalty kicks to win its quarterfinal against Westmoreland/Oriskany.
West Genesee hoped for a sustained run in the sectional Class AA playoffs, but the no. 5 seed Wildcats did not get past a wild 4-3 double-overtime defeat to no. 4 seed Watertown in the quarterfinals.
What made it more excruciating was the way it all unfolded.
The Wildcats were up 3-2 as regulation time ticked down, but with just four seconds left, an all-out Cyclones attack led to Nico Spaziani sending a shot that eluded several WG defenders and zoomed past Boston Crandall.
Stunned by this, WG did managed to keep the first OT period scoreless. In the second OT, though, Teagan Buckley’s shot eluded Crandall, found the net and gave Watertown the win.
Jake McMahon had led the Wildcats’ early charge, scoring twice. Tighe McMahon had the other goal, adding an assist as Sean Dunning and Faris Malovic also had assists. WG finished its season with a 9-8 record.
