Top-seeded Odyssey opens sectionals with win; Pezzulo sets program mark

By PAUL GOTHAM

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Top seed for the first time in program history, Scott Mikulski’s Greece Odyssey boys’ soccer team wasted little time asserting themselves Saturday. The Leopards, though, quickly learned how roles can change when you go from being the hunter to the hunted.

“I’ve been on the other end of it,” Mikulski said after Odyssey’s 2-0 win over eighth-seeded Newark in the Section V Class B2 quarterfinals. “We’ve been the hunter. The longer you go against a team and you’re staying in the game the more frustrated the higher seeded team is going to be, and the more confident the lower-seeded team is going to be.”

Dylan Ange scored the first of his two goals less than three minutes into the match, but the Leopards could not gain separation from Newark.

 

.@Odyboyssoccer games this season mean seeing one of the very best mascots in @SectionVsports and one of the very best players in @SecVBoysSoccer in Dylan Ange. pic.twitter.com/i2HxOXtBtA

— Matt Trabold (@TrabsMatt) October 20, 2018

“To score a goal in the first few minutes of the game it relaxed us, but I thought we should have been able to score more goals against this team,” the 15th-year coach said. “They packed it in, and that’s what’s going to happen. We need to prepare for when opposing teams pack it in.”

Newark needed 25 minutes before they advanced the ball into Odyssey’s 18-yard. The day was like for Kyle Pezzulo who set a single-season program record with his 10th shutout of the season.

VIEW MORE SUE KANE PHOTOS HERE.

“I don’t think they had any legitimate scoring opportunities at all today. It was an easy day for Kyle to get that shutout.”

Ange scored less than six minutes into the second half for the final margin.

 

45’ Dylan Ange gives @Odyboyssoccer a 2-nil advantage. pic.twitter.com/IbNEwdFv04

— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 20, 2018

Odyssey will play the winner of No. 4 Livonia – No. 5 Geneva in Wednesday’s semifinal.

“This the first year we’ve been top seed,” Ange said. “We usually come from being the underdog. Now everyone has us marked, so it’s a little different. We have to perform a little more. Pressure is on us. Now it’s pretty much even because all the teams are going to be pretty much going hard and like top seeds.”

 

Ryan Michelson: Now you see it; now you don’t. @Odyboyssoccer pic.twitter.com/yQGnNzRFCE

— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 20, 2018