By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The last time the Edison Tech boys’ soccer team lost was September 17th. Since then the Inventors have rattled off 10 straight wins.
The means have stayed the same and head coach AJ Maio is content with that.
Mabrook Saleh and Malik Musa scored a goal apiece as Edison rallied to beat Webster Schroeder, 2-1 in the Class AA quarterfinals played at the Trent Jackson Athletic Complex on the campus of Franklin High School.
“I let them do their thing,” Maio said of his leading scorers. “I just let them do their thing. They know how to find each other.”
Trailing 1-nil late in the first half, Musa led Saleh for the equalizer. Sales returned the favor on the eventual game winner with 18:25 remaining in the contest.
The pair have combined on 32 goals this season and have 23 assists between them.
62’ Malik Musa takes advantage of a second chance opportunity to give Edison a 2-1 lead. Class AA quarterfinals pic.twitter.com/UJ0gUADZL4
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 19, 2018
“Sometimes, they get it to other people, but them together is just magic,” Maio noted.
Friday night, though, it was the efforts of sophomore goalkeeper Sumani Hassani that made the difference.
“He came up with some timely saves,” Maio said. “There were a couple I thought were going in. He somehow got over, dove and gobbled it up. He didn’t even give up a rebound. He’s been a backbone to our success in the last 10 wins. It’s been fantastic.”
No save was bigger than that which the Edison keeper made with little more than seven minutes remaining. Schroeder’s lead scorer, Alex Ortiz, found himself with breathing room inside the box along the left side. The senior attacker looked to far post, but Hassani was at his best diving to the turf for the save.
“I saw where he was going,” Hassani said. “I made a quick adjustment and reacted from there.”
The Inventors held on from there.
“Everything,” Hassani said. “This is my second year playing varsity to get this first win in sectionals is everything.”
Edison (13-2-2) will play the winner of the matchup between top-seeded Hilton (12-2-2) and Webster Thomas (5-10-1). Hilton is ranked No. 5 NYSSWA Class AA.
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