The Canton boys varsity soccer team captured Section X glory over the weekend, defeating the OFA Blue Devils in double overtime to move on to state play.
Section X Semifinal: Canton 6, Gouverneur 1
On Wednesday Oct. 30, the top-seed Canton Boys Varsity Soccer team played the fourth seed Gouverneur Wildcats in a Section X semifinal matchup. The Golden Bears won by a score of 6-1 and moved on to the finals.
The Bears got off to a hot start, scoring just under three minutes into the game. Will Andes led the Bears, scoring off a pass from Tomi Husinec who had the assist. However, the Wildcats kept the Bears honest, and scored with 31 minutes left. A Gouverneur forward placed a beautiful pass past the Bears defense, giving their striker a breakaway to tie the game up.
After the Wildcats scored the Bears got a little wake up call and started to play harder as well. The game remained tied for a majority of the first half, with both teams playing a physical game. The Bears finally broke through with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half. Andes scored his second goal of the game, taking a shot from the Wildcat 18-yard-line.
Just two minutes later the Golden Bears struck again. Sophomore Giffin Coakley, who was brought up from JV, scored his first varsity goal which was assisted by Husinec. The Bears would end the half up 3-1 on the Wildcats. But, the scoring was far from over.
Not even two minutes into the second half, the Bears increased their lead to 4-1 after Zadok Roiger made an amazing run downfield giving the ball to Husinec for the shot. One minute later Husinec scored his second of the game unassisted. The Bears final goal was scored by Husinec off a pass from Josh Mclear with 29 minutes left to go in the game.
The Wildcats tried to get some offense going but the Bears defense snuffed any chances for a possible Gouveneur goal. The Bears finsihed the game with 13 shots. Canton’s goalkeeper, Jackson Ames, had 3 saves on 4 shots.
Photos of this game, courtesy of Shelly Pike, can be found here.
Section X Championship: Canton 1, OFA 0
On a cold Saturday afternoon the Canton Boys Varsity Soccer team played the OFA Blue Devils for the Section X Championship at SUNY Canton. After a competitive game that went into two overtime frames, the Golden Bears emerged victorious winning by a score of 1-0.
The Golden Bears started with the ball in the first half. Just a few seconds after kickoff Canton got an early scoring opportunity which set the tone for the rest of the game. The Bears maintained most of the possession in the first half, but the OFA defense kept the Bears top goal scorers from getting prime scoring chances.
Both teams played physical with fouls being called frequently throughout the game. In the middle of the second half the Blue Devils offense started to put some pressure on the Bears defense, forcing Canton to kick the ball out of any dangerous scoring areas.
Canton had plenty of corner kicks in the second half but none of which they were able to capitalize on. With just under five minutes remaining in the second half the Bears got the best scoring chance they had gotten all day. Andes gave a give-and-go pass to Grady Nee who slid the ball across the OFA box to Mclear who put the ball over the net.
As the seconds ticked off in regulation the Bears had one more chance off another corner but the Blue Devils cleared the ball keeping the game at a scoreless tie.
In the first overtime OFA would get the best chance to score they had all game after a loose ball found its way to the top of Canton’s 18-yard-line. A Blue Devil forward took a hard shot on net but Husinec made an amazing play to get in front of the shot and the Bears were able to clear the ball.
Both teams kept fighting hard to score first but neither were able to do it in the first overtime.
The Golden Bears put an end to the game with 9:52 left. Andes slid the ball to Husinec at the top of OFA 18-yard-line. Husinec took a hard shot, placing the ball top left corner on the Blue Devil net, finishing the game in a poetic fashion.
Immediately after the goal, the Golden Bears rushed to the student section formed on the fence to celebrate.
The Canton Boys Varsity Soccer team has now won three consecutive League and Section championships. The Golden Bears also won their 30th Section X title in school history. With that win the Golden Bears now move on to the Regional Semi-Final. Canton will play a 5:30 game against No. 1 ranked Westhill at Watertown High School.
Photos of this game, courtesy of Shelly Pike, can be found here.
