Wednesday, Oct. 25 Section X Semifinal – Canton 9, Gouverneur 1
On Wednesday the Canton Boys Varsity Soccer team won its first playoff game against Gouveurner by a score of 9-1.
The Wildcats put pressure on the Bears defense right away but the Bears defense kept them from getting a shot on net. The Golden Bears offense did well moving the ball downfield but could not convert on any opportunities. Missed shots and crosses kept the Wildcats alive.
It wasn’t until nine minutes remaining in the first half that the Golden Bears scored their first. Josh Mclear played a shot far side on Governor’s goaltender off a pass from Ryan Jones.
Just two minutes later the Golden Bears gained a direct kick in the Wildcats zone. Ryan Jones placed the ball in the Wildcats box. The ball deflected off one of the Gouveurner defenders to Ethan Francey who got a quick shot off to increase the lead to 2-0.
With three minutes to go in the first Tomi Husinec found an open lane to make a great pass to Ryan Jones. Jones walked in and blasted one past the Gouveurner goaltender.
The Wildcats started to gain some ground back with under a minute left when the Bears Goaltender, Jackson Ames, fumbled the ball leaving an open net for the Wildcats to make the score 3-1 at the end of the first half.
The Bears dominated in almost all aspects of the game in the second half with lots of shots on net and offensive zone time. In the second half Ryan Jones had two goals and Ethan Francey had three.
With just a few minutes remaining in the game Tomi Husinec curled the ball far side off a corner kick.
The Bears had 25 shots on net. The Bears starting Goaltender Jackson Ames had 7 saves. Ames was replaced by Roiger halfway through the second half. Roiger had 2 saves.
Photos of the Section X Semifinal courtesy of Shelly Pike can be found by clicking here.
Saturday, Oct. 28 Section X Championship – Canton 5, Salmon River 0
On Saturday the Canton Bears and Salmon River Shamrocks faced off for the Class B Sectional Championship. The Golden Bears won by a score of 5-0.
The Bears offense went to work immediately. The Bears dominated the middle of the field, forcing turnovers before the Shamrocks could move into Canton territory. The Shamrocks defense worked diligently attempting to weather the storm. The Bears couldn’t seem to find the frame and most of their shots were either over the net or wide. The Salmon offense had a slight burst of energy but the Bears held them off.
Finally with under 10 minutes to go in the first half the floodgates opened and the Bears went up 1-0. Ryan Jones gave a short pass just outside of Salmon’s 18-yard-line to Ethan Francey. Francey walked toward the middle of the 18 and got a hard shot off on the Salmon River goal.
Francey would score again two minutes later off a pass from Daniel Creurer.
Ryan Jones scored with 26 seconds left and Tomi Husinec had the assist. At the end of the first half the Bears led by 4.
The second half the Bears continued to keep the pressure on the Shamrocks. It was all Canton in the second half but they would only convert on one opportunity.
With 27 minutes left to play the Bears got a direct kick deep in Salmon’s end of the field. Ryan Jones crossed the ball inside the box. Ethan Francey faked a shot and left it for Tomi Husinec. Husinec would get his third goal of the season. The Bears had 18 shots on net and Jackson Ames had 2 saves.
The Bears will travel to play the winner of Section II Mechanicville and Section VII Northeastern Clinton on Saturday.
Awards photos courtesy of Shelly Pike can be found by clicking here.
