By PAUL GOTHAM
WHEATLAND, N.Y. — Unbeaten through their first four games, the Byron-Bergen/Elba boys’ soccer team had not allowed a goal coming into Wednesday’s Livingston County – Genesee Region matchup. The Bees wasted little time grabbing a lead they did not surrender.
But the state’s 11-ranked squad (Class C) had to hold on for its fifth win of the season.
Kyle Foeller found the back of the net twice including the eventual game winner early in the second half, and Byron-Bergen/Elba beat Wheatland-Chili, 3-2.
Foeller took a through ball from Greyson Huntington and slipped past the Wheatland-Chili backline for his sixth marker of the season.
“He’s got a good nose for the net,” Byron-Bergen/Elba coach Ken Rogoyski commented. “He’s a threat whether he’s penetrating, whether he’s deep, whether he’s left side whether he’s on his right. He’s good all around.”
The Bees, a Class C NYS finalist a year ago, looked in command for the next 15 minutes of the contest.
Wheatland-Chili’s Gabriel Rosado changed that with a strike from inside the 18-yard box.
“That’s a testament to their attitude and their desire to just keep working no matter the score, the time no matter where we are in the game,” Wheatland-Chili head coach Steve Call said of his squad which threatened to level the match in the late going. “We moved some guys around, and I really liked where we ended up in the second half especially the last 15-20. I thought we were really putting some pressure on them.”
Rick Hubbard gets behind the defense only to clang his shot off the crossbar. HALFTIME: Byron-Bergen/Elba 2 Wheatland-Chili 1. Sam Pringle and Kyle Foeller have the B-B/E goals. Wheatland-Chili’s Aaron Lund went upper 90 for his first varsity marker. pic.twitter.com/W2yi1veTii
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 12, 2018
Rosado took a feed from senior David Domina and cut the margin to one with 9:23 left on the game clock.
Playing their fourth game in seven days, the Wildcats created two more corner kick opportunities in the closing minutes and sent a pair of shots in the direction of the Byron-Bergen/Elba frame.
“At one point, I had one senior and only two juniors on the field,” Call said of his squad. “The other eight were all sophomores and freshmen just working their butts off.
“That’s the young guys. They don’t know any different. They’re just playing. They were going all out. They’re giving this program, this team everything they’ve got. They don’t know any different.”
Byron-Bergen/Elba’s Sam Pringle opened the scoring less than two minutes into the match. Foeller added to the lead in the 14th minute with an assist from Wade Thompson.
Freshman Aaron Lund got Wheatland-Chili (2-3-0/1-1-0) on the scoreboard with his first varsity goal – an upper 90 strike from just outside the 18-yard box.
The Bees will host Geneseo (No. 15 NYSSWA Class C) for a 6:30 PM match on Friday.
Wheatland-Chili plays at Holley next Tuesday.
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