By PAUL GOTHAM
FAIRPORT, N.Y. — Myles Palmer netted a pair of goals, and Garrett Kucera added one as the Fairport Red Raiders (No. 13 NYSSWA Class AA) moved into first place of Monroe County Division I with a 3-2 victory over visiting Penfield (No. 4 NYSSWA).
Palmer’s second goal of the night proved to be the game winner. The junior attacker rose above a crowd inside the 6-yard box and nodded in a cross from teammate Jackson Talbot for a 3-1 Faiport lead with 7:40 remaining in the game.
“I knew he was thinking about it,” Palmer said of Talbot who played the ball from the right wing. “I tried to get myself in the best position I could and then attack it.”
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With the win, Fairport’s sixth straight, the Red Raiders handed the reigning Class AA champions their first loss since 2019. Penfield was unbeaten in 22 straight heading into Thursday’s match. The Patriot had also defeated and tied Fairport in 2019.
“It feels great to come back and beat them finally,” said Palmer who was a freshman on the 2019 team that advanced to the NYS Class AA championship.
With a nod of the head, Myles Palmer gives Fairport a 3-1 lead. 7:49 left in the clock. pic.twitter.com/C5tZWcQiLi
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 1, 2021
With the game tied at one early in the second half, Kucera gave Fairport a lead it did not surrender. The senior midfielder took a pass from Palmer, split a pair of defenders along the right side and finished on the far post.
“I turned and saw space,” Kucera said. “I haven’t really taken people on much recently. I thought I’d use my speed a little bit, take on the defender, get by him and finish.”
Fairport handed Hilton its first loss of the season when the two teams met a week ago. Palmer scored both goals in that 2-nil win. With Thursday’s effort he has 15 on the season to go with four assists to lead the division.
Garrett Kucera gives Fairport a 2-1 lead early in the second. pic.twitter.com/xULTTCLkOx
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 1, 2021
“It feels great,” Palmer said. “After this game, everybody knows me now especially with the last game. It means I have to work harder and a lot smarter. It shows a lot of improvement.”
Penfield’s Cristiano Mounnarat scored a goal and added an assist. The junior connected on a free kick from 39 yards out with 3:06 left on the game clock to cut the deficit to one.
“They were coming in hot, really attacking us,” Kucera said of the last five minutes of the game. “We saw what happened when we did give up a foul. We had to be careful with that and be smart in the back.”
Penfield’s Jack Maness leveled the match midway through the first half.
21:21 remaining in the first half: Cristiano Mounnarat rings the post. Jack Maness is there for the equalizer. @PHSVarBSoccer 1 @FCSDSports 1 pic.twitter.com/YZJc0NuyGv
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 30, 2021
Fairport (9-1-0) has a half-game advantage over Penfield (8-1-1) in the division standings with two weeks remaining in the season. The Red Raiders play their remaining four games on the road starting with Webster Schroeder on Wednesday.
Penfield hosts Rush-Henrietta on Wednesday. The Patriots were without leading scorer Shane McMillan. The Robert Morris commit has missed the last five games with an injury to his left foot.
Proceeds from Thursday’s game were collected for Childhood Cancer Awareness.
Last home game of the season for Boys Soccer tonight vs. Penfield at 7 pm. Wear your yellow for Childhood Cancer Awareness. This game hits home for Coach Bill Teasdale. #RaiderPride #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth pic.twitter.com/c578cqZGZ7
— Fairport Athletics (@FCSDSports) September 30, 2021
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