By PAUL GOTHAM
The halftime adjustment had little to do with strategy and more to do with mental approach. The change made all the difference.
TJ Tytler netted a pair of goals, and the Bishop Kearney Kings defeated the Campbell-Savona Panthers, 3-0 in Section V Class C2 boys soccer action Saturday.
Tytler connected in the first half on what would be the eventual game winner, but Kearney’s change in approach during the second stanza made it stand.
“First half we just struggled to possess the ball,” the junior midfielder explained. “We didn’t make any tactical change. We brought it together and got composed.”
The result was a series of opportunities in the second 40 minutes. Tytler converted early on a rebound.
“Second half once we started possessing, they started chasing, started getting tired,” Tytler added. “They put their heads down and just started running. By that point we won the game mentally.”
Fernando Furioso started the play with a cross from the left wing. Jordan Freed’s header attempt was turned away by Campbell-Savona goalkeeper, Nate Gleason. Matthew Giacovelli had the first rebound chance which appeared to clear the line before Gleason knocked it away again.
Tytler followed from there.
“I just had to put it in to make sure,” Tytler said. “I don’t know if it crossed the line the first time.”
Yaak Awuok added an insurance tally in the 65th minute when the senior midfielder went near post with a volley from the left side of the 18-yard box.
“Unlike the first half, in the second half we didn’t fall victim to a style of play that we’re not accustomed to,” assistant coach Bill McKee stated. “We were a little bit more composed. We were a little bit more patient.”
Instead of giving into a back and forth game, Kearney’s offense found its rhythm and consistent offensive buildup.
“We moved the ball around,” McKee noted. “We played the flanks. We created some opportunities that we didn’t have in the first half. We finished, and that’s the name of the game. Our composure helped us out a great deal in second half.”
Furioso set up Tytler’s first goal. Tytler leads Kearney with nine goals on the season.
Kearney goalkeeper David Tierney notched his sixth shutout.
BK (11-5-1) will play the winner of top-seeded Bloomfield vs. No. 9 seed Red Creek in Wednesday’s semi-final. The Kings last reached the semi-finals in 2015 when they eventually advanced to the finals before losing to Geneseo in overtime, 2-1. Kearney shared the 2010 Class CC title with East Rochester.
Leave a Reply