By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Two weeks ago Dansville and Greece Odyssey boys’ soccer opened their seasons with a game that saw a combined 13 goals. On Thursday night, the result was the same. The manner in reaching that end took on a different appearance.
Three different players found the back of the net as Odyssey rallied for a 3-1 victory.
“We scored eight goals last time we played them,” Odyssey head coach Scott Mikulski said of his team’s season-opening win on September 2nd. “Every game we’ve scored fairly early. For us being down it took us a while to get going. We finally did.”
Held scoreless for the first 39 minutes of action, Jason Clohessey intercepted a clearing attempt and connected from 25 yards out to level the match at one.
“The fact that we put in on frame finally in the final minute was key,” Mikulski noted. “That gave us some momentum going into the second half. We played the way we’re capable of in the second half.”
Jason Clohessey steps in front of a cleaning attempt and levels the match at 1 heading into halftime. @Odyboyssoccer pic.twitter.com/nStHUwiKtR
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 17, 2021
Less than 20 minutes into the second half, Ryan Michelsen scored on a corner kick opportunity to give Odyssey its first lead of the night.
“Once we scored there, we dominated from that point on,” Mikulski stated.
From a tough angle, Ryan Michelsen tucks one under the bar to give @Odyboyssoccer a 2-1 lead with 23:42 remaining. pic.twitter.com/irwem1WqRz
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 17, 2021
AJ Rebis converted a PK for the final tally of the night.
71’ AJ Rebis converts the PK to give @Odyboyssoccer a 3-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/MH1RRzcBxR
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 17, 2021
Jeff Birmingham connected in the game’s 11th minute and gave Dansville the early advantage.
“We’ve only been down once this year when we lost to HF-L the other night,” Mikulski said referring to Tuesday’s 4-o setback. “The big thing for us was once we got down I don’t think we panicked. We just kept going and going.”
Unassisted goal from Jeff Birmingham gives Dansville a 1-nil lead. pic.twitter.com/F1CWqbrVVp
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 16, 2021
Odyssey’s defense also made a point to limit Dansville’s Tyler Harris.
“He destroyed us last time,” Mikulski said of the junior midfielder who scored four goals in the previous meeting. “We were able to contain him tonight. “They came out with a different game plan. He started as an outside midfielder today. Then they got the lead and they threw him up top. It changed everything. He was giving us fits in the first half because we already went in knowing we had to mark him and now we’re down. That threw us off.”
74’ Omar Ashkar denies Dansville. pic.twitter.com/EyBQsPjsqR
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 17, 2021
Odyssey offense also settled into a comfortable rhythm in the second half.
“First half we were just booming it. That’s not how we play. We have some skill on this team. We move the ball around. Second half we did much better with that.”
Dansville keeper Colin Gray stopped 16 shots.
Odyssey hosts Batavia in a Monroe County Division IV matchup on Saturday. An 11 a.m. kickoff is scheduled.
Dansville travels to play Letchworth/Warsaw next Monday.
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