By PAUL GOTHAM
WEBSTER, N.Y. — Kevin Hauck’s Sodus Spartans fell 1-nil in last year’s Section Class C1 semifinal game. The Spartans wanted the opportunity to turn the tables.
Wednesday night at Webster Schroeder High School, Sodus made good on a second chance.
Will Lamar and Donovan Fillmore connected on a pair of goals late in the first-half, and Sodus upended reigning NYSPHSSA Class C finalist Byron-Bergen/Elba (No. 15 NYSSWA), 5-0 to advance to Saturday’s title game.
“These guys wanted to play them,” Hauck said of his squad. “They obviously wanted to get back to this stage. It all came together.”
Lamar snapped a scoreless tie in the 36th when he gathered a Luis Martinez lead along the left flank and slotted a shot in the opposite side netting. Fillmore converted a direct kick with :08 remaining in the half.
8 ticks remaining in halftime and Donovan Fillmore gives Sodus a 2-0 lead. Class C1 semifinals. pic.twitter.com/E5d6kaRJmG
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 24, 2018
“The goal at the end of the first half was massive,” Hauck said. “Obviously the first one was big. The second one put a stamp on it.”
Sodus extended the lead to four in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
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“Once teams have to open up against us, we’re very athletic and we’re very skilled so it’s kinda plays into us,” Hauck noted. “Obviously, most teams want to play with a lead, but I think we’re extra difficult when we have a lead.”
Martinez volleyed a Ryan DeBadts cross into the back of the net less than eight minutes after the break. Lamar redirected a Colin Karasinski cross for a goal less than two minutes later.
“These guys are so loose but so confident,” Hauck added. “I don’t need to motivate these guys at all. They love to play the game. They love to play together. When you have that combination of that type of skill and athletes they are, you just kinda stand back and watch ‘em go.”
49’Colin Karasinksi gets to the end line to feed Will Lamar for a 4-0 Sodus lead over Byron-Bergen/Elba. @SecVBoysSoccer Class C1 semifinals pic.twitter.com/OifD4SWirs
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 24, 2018
John Molisani made seven saves for his sixth straight shutout.
“John made some huge saves,” Hauck stated.
The defensive effort also included giving added attention to the Bees top player, Wade Thompson.
“Clearly, going into the game he was a point of emphasis,” Hauck said of Byron-Bergen/Elba’s leading scorer with 20 goals and 11 assists. “There was an argument that he would be the best player on the field. Our guys took it personal.”
Sodus marked Thompson throughout the match, giving the crafty midfielder little room to operate. With his ability to make plays limited, the Bees (15-4-0) were shut out for the first time since September 22nd – a span of nine games.
“We did a really good job on him. He’s a great player. He’s a great individual player. We did a good job on him.”
Karasinski scored the final goal for Sodus (12-5-2) in the 64th minute.
“I turned to our assistant coach and asked where in your wildest dreams did you see five to nothing?”
The Spartans dream came true.
Sodus will move on to play Wayne County rival East Rochester in Saturday’s final. The two teams split a pair of games earlier this season with ER winning on their home turf, 2-0. The Spartans returned the favor with a 3-nil victory.
Sodus is undefeated in its last nine games.
“It’s going to be a battle. We’ve had these goals, these aspirations to get to this point. We’ve talked about this since March, so we’re prepared. We know we’re going to be in for a battle.”
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