Southwestern's Grey Kidder, proper, defends a header by East Aurora's Noah Bernys, left, in Tuesday's Part VI, Class B boys soccer recreation at West Seneca West Excessive Faculty. PJ photograph by Tim Frank
WEST SENECA – With seconds remaining in Tuesday's Part VI Class B crossover recreation at West Seneca West Excessive Faculty, Connor Younger appeared so as to add one other purpose to his Southwestern profession file.
Because the Trojans senior tried a shot on the East Aurora purpose, it was deflected by a Blue Devils defender.
Even with simply seconds left in a Four-Zero victory, East Aurora refused to surrender a purpose.
It was that sort of night time for the Trojans.
Lucas Jamesson scored a pair of early objectives and the Blue Devils' protection had a solution for each Southwest offense as East Aurora knocked the Trojans out of the New York Public Excessive Faculty Athletic Affiliation Class B match.
Southwestern's Connor Younger chests a ball as East Aurora's Noah Wasner follows. PJ photograph by Tim Frank
“It's irritating, it's disappointing,” Southwestern head coach Jason Deering stated after the sport. “We actually felt like we have been going to return in and play a greater recreation. It didn't occur.”
Subsequent up for the defending Class B state champions Blue Devils is a Far West Regional meet at midday Saturday with Part V champion Hornell at Geneseo Excessive Faculty.
“I'm glad this group took that burden off their shoulders. … New gamers got here in and constructed a belief with one another,” stated 28-year East Aurora head coach Kevin Beale, who tied longtime Lancaster head coach Joe Adamec for the teaching file of Western New York boys soccer together with his 436th profession win. “We simply need to have a pleasant journey to Rochester on Saturday and see if we will get a visit to Middletown.”
Southwestern's season ends with a 17-Three-Zero file and a Class B2 sectional crown, the fourth in program historical past.
“We didn't do all the things we have been ready to do,” Deering stated. “They performed good protection in opposition to us. We simply weren't finishing these previous couple of passes.”
Southwestern's Gavin Ternullo makes a cross whereas being defended by East Aurora's Nicky Carl in Tuesday's Part VI Class B crossover recreation at West Seneca West Excessive Faculty. PJ photograph by Tim Frank
The Trojans have been on the offensive finish of the sphere for a lot of the primary 5 minutes, however East Aurora capitalized on its first alternative when Jamesson scored off a scramble off a nook kick to make it 1-Zero within the minute fourth.
“The youngsters did what we would have liked to do to get on board,” Beale stated. “We need to be robust within the field and now we have been.”
Jamesson made it 2-Zero simply minutes later when he obtained a cross from Nicky Carl and glanced a shot off the left submit earlier than curling throughout the purpose line and close to the precise submit.
East Aurora, which misplaced six starters from final yr's Class B state championship workforce, together with New York Gatorade Participant of the Yr All-American Amar Culov, made it troublesome all night time for Southwestern, which couldn't penetrate the road from again of the Blue Devils.
“I'm so joyful for our seniors who didn't play a second final yr: Ty Daly, Carter Hill and Jacob Holko,” Beale stated. “Carter Hill and Jacob Holko got here in to play a key function at heart, enjoying these forwards that we've performed the final two video games and we didn't give something up.”
The Trojans' Wilson Genareo hit the crossbar within the 18th minute and Southwestern got here up empty on back-to-back nook kicks within the 26th minute earlier than East Aurora scored its third purpose.
“We couldn't end our alternatives,” Deering stated.
Owen Mack was introduced down within the Trojans' 18-yard field, and Kai Sendziak, who was chosen to take the penalty kick, scored to the left of Southwestern goalkeeper Cooper Charles within the 35th minute.
Simply over two minutes later, Mack headed house a nook kick despatched into the field by Bronson Besant because the Blue Devils reached the ultimate margin within the first 37 minutes.
“It's jumpy and it's fired up and prepared for something in these corners,” Deering stated of the Blue Devils' success on layups. “We talked about how harmful they’re. That's what champions do, they'll play protection and rating with the highest foot.”
Whereas East Aurora's season might proceed with probably three extra video games, this season and the careers of Trojans seniors Younger, Vaughn, Judd Harris, Chase Hartnett, Grey Kidder, Nolan Lefler, Bergen Nelson, Isac Pope, Anthony Pratt and Gavin Ternullo have reached at one finish in crossover play for the second straight season.