By PAUL GOTHAM
SPENCERPORT, N.Y. — Rush-Henrietta’s past two seasons ended with losses in the Class AA semifinals.
Thursday night the Royal Comets changed that trend.
Jean Kennedy netted a first-half goal. Hunter Kassel found back of the net early in the second, and Ethan Scheuer turned in a masterful performance between the pipes as the Royal Comets downed divisional foe Penfield 2-0 to advance to Tuesday’s Class AA final.
“We found a way,” R-H boys soccer coach Jake Falci said. “Six seeds aren’t supposed to go to the finals, but that’s what we’re doing.”
Kennedy connected on his second goal of the season when he slotted a Jason Pike cross from the left corner.
“It was a team effort that made that goal happen,” Kennedy said. “It started all the way in our half, brought it all the way up. Jason went to the corner, crossed it right in and I just ran in and scored.”
Pike traveled 25 yards along the left flank before getting to the end line and serving Kennedy with a spot-on feed.
“I’m just lucky enough to have a teammate who gave me the ball over there,” the senior attacker added. “Without my teammate, I don’t think I would have done that.”
Kassel one-timed a Cory Meintel cross less than 30 seconds into the second half.
“We talked about getting a quick start coming out of halftime,” Falci said. “This field plays so big, and it showed. Our guys struggled to keep their legs. Getting that early goal was big.”
From that point, R-H held off a Penfield squad intent on taking over the match.
“We’re not used to playing in front of such a big crowd,” Falci noted. “Our student section is great. The guys got a little caught up in that. We had to keep them focused.”
Scheuer steadied Falci’s backline.
“He came through for us so many times,” the second-year coach said of his senior. “Penfield sent 11 guys forward. We were having trouble matching up, trying to figure out what to do. He made the saves we needed.”
56’ Ethan Scheuer makes the diving save for Rush-Henrietta. Royal Comets lead 2-0. pic.twitter.com/R000bQ12Jf
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 26, 2018
The win was the third this year for R-H over Penfield – all by the identical scores of 2-nil.
“Hats off to Penfield,” Falci continued. “John (Penfield coach Cotsonas) does a great job. His kids were prepared and gave us everything we could handle.”
Sixth-seeded R-H (9-7-2) moves on to Tuesday’s final where they will meet another Monroe County Division I rival in top-seeded Hilton. The Cadets took both meetings between the two teams during the regular season winning by counts of 2-1 and 1-nil.
Nathan Murray denies an early opportunity for R-H. @PHSVarSoccer pic.twitter.com/pOd8mxPJ4S
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 25, 2018
The Royal Comets will make their first trip to the finals since 2008 when they lost Class AAA title game to Fairport, 1-0.
Leave a Reply