By PAUL GOTHAM
IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. — Keegan VanKerkove snapped a one-all tie early in the second half, and the Irondequoit Eagles (4-6-3/2-4-2) continued to ride recent momentum with a 2-1 win over Webster Thomas in Monroe County Division II action, Tuesday.
Emir Erkenkalken started the play along the right flank. VanKerkove, though, pointed to the play of a another teammate that made the difference.
“It was unselfish by Luke Melidona,” VanKerkove explained. “Emir had a great ball to put it back in the box. Luke Melidona left it. He could have shot it himself but he was unselfish. He left it for me. I just put it away.”
With the win, Irondequoit remains undefeated in four out of its last five games. A stretch where the Eagles have outscored opponents 11-7. Their only loss coming to a Spenceport club (4-1) which won Wednesday night to run its their string to eight.
“Our goal is always to be a second half of the season team so we’re peaking at sectional time,” Irondequoit head coach Steve Brickler said. “That’s what we try to do.”
Wednesday’s decision was a good example. After falling to Thomas 1-nil earlier in the season, the Eagles turned the tables on their home pitch.
“We like to peak at the back end of the season, so we like to avenge what happened to us first time around,” Brickler noted. “First game was good. This game was a good game too. It could have gone either way. Glad to come out of here with a win tonight.”
VanKerkove has been a big part of the turnaround.
“We moved Keegan more into an attacking role, so he puts a lot of pressure on the defenders because he is non-stop energy,” Brickler said when asked about the difference for his team of late. “That’s a big change that we’ve made.
“He’s just an athlete. That’s all you can say. He knows what he needs to do when the game’s on the line.”
Caleb Felton gave Irondequoit a 1-nil advantage late in the first half. The senior climbed the ladder above a tangle of players in the middle of the 18-yard box and nodded in a Nathan Ritchie corner kick for an early 1-nil edge.
31’ Caleb Felton nods in a Nathan Ritchie corner to give @WIEagles a 1-nil advantage. pic.twitter.com/Xz9W5jwBWW
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 3, 2018
“I just wanted it,” Felton said of the goal. “I haven’t scored all year. I wanted to score in front of all my friends and family. I just wanted the goal.
“I saw the ball. The man who was guarding me wasn’t fully on me, so I just sprinted up and hit it in.”
Zach Wolfe leveled the match for Thomas less than seven minutes into the second half.
47’ Zach Wolfe goes opposite side netting to level the match. @ThomasTitans 1 @WIEagles 1 pic.twitter.com/mkYathVZIE
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 4, 2018
But Irondequoit was not to be denied. VanKerkove connected on his team-leading fifth marker of the season two minutes later.
“It’s a great feeling,” VanKerkove stated. “We fell apart in the beginning of the year. Had close games all year. Now we’re starting to turn it around and play teams another time and get another chance at them and taking advantage of it.
“It’s just the energy. We come out the second half and we play with a hundred percent. We don’t let anything past us.”
Irondequoit plays at Churchville-Chili on Friday.
Thomas hosts Gates-Chili on Friday.
Leave a Reply