By PAUL GOTHAM
EAST ROCHESTER, N.Y. — On September 17th, the East Rochester boys’ soccer team dropped to a record of 1 win – 5 losses and 0 ties after a 1-nil setback to Marion.
Thursday night, the Bombers didn’t so much as turn the tables on the Black Knights as they took a Bills-Mafia leap into a folding table and pounded it into the turf.
Ian Szemcsak scored twice in a resounding 4-0 victory.
“We’ve just been really putting in the work,” he said. “We took a couple of tough losses that really put an extra chip on our shoulder, a little drive in us to fight harder in these games and do better. It really helped us to get the motivation to beat theses other teams.”
With Thursday’s win, East Rochester improved to 6-6-1.
“They’re buying in right now,” first-year head coach Mike Yacuzzo said. “Everybody.”
At the center of the Bombers’ recent surge is Szemcsak – the lone senior in the lineup. His two tallies in Thursday’s win ran his season total to nine. He assisted on a first-half goal from Jalen McCoy.
“He’s an incredible leader,” Yacuzzo said. “He’s got everyone on this team believing that we have what it takes to beat anybody.”
Szemcsak scored four goals last year for an ER squad which won its second straight Section V Class C1 championship. That team found the back of the net on 92 occasions in 14 games. Seniors Chuck Domm (47 goals), Russell Domm (23), Max Wagner (12) and Jalen Patterson (4) combined for 94 percent of that team’s offense
Finding an offensive identity this season fell on the shoulders of Szemcsak.
“From day one, he stepped right into the role,” Yacuzzo stated. “He obviously is missing those guys, but he knows it’s his job now to get the rest of the team on board with what it takes to have a winning program.
“There have been bumps in the road, but he has absolutely stepped up and shown everyone that just because we lost some incredible athletes doesn’t mean that we don’t have some now.”
Szemcsak gained possession of the ball 80 yards away and threaded a pass between a pair of Marion defenders to set up teammate Jalen McCoy for a counterattack goal late in the first half. The tally was McCoy’s team-best 10th of the season.
31’ Ian Szemcsak leads Jalen McCoy into the open field on the counterattack for a 2-0 @ERBombers lead over Marion. pic.twitter.com/MxKnUbccnj
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 7, 2021
Szemcsak’s second goal came at the end of a rush that started near midfield as the 6-foot attacker weaved his way along the middle third. With McCoy on his right, defenders had to guard against the pass. Szemcsak accelerated just outside the 18-yard box and cut to his left before finishing among four defenders.
Ian Szemcsak connects on his second goal of the night. @ERBombers 4-0 16:27 remaining pic.twitter.com/eX8mmtvRqC
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 7, 2021
“People don’t know who they should be more worried about,” Yacuzzo noted. “Is it Jalen? Or is it Ian? What we’ve been working on is getting those two in sync and finding the other when one draws the four, the other is open. They’re finally linking up together and it’s just been fun to watch.”
Teddy Emmings contributed to the offense when he converted on a corner kick. Domenic Romach assisted on the play.
48’ Teddy Emmings climbs the ladder to convert on the corner kick. @ERBombers 3 Marion 0 pic.twitter.com/XQikekCtrl
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 7, 2021
Of their six wins, one has come against Williamson. The Bombers are undefeated (one win and one tie) against the Marauders ranked No. 2 NYSSWA Class C.
“What they’ve done in the Williamson games, has made them all believers,” Yacuzzo said. “Whoever comes on this turf or wherever we go, they can come out on top.”
ER hosts Gananda for a 1 p.m. start on Saturday. Marion (6-6-2) plays at C.G. Finney next Monday. That is also a 1 p.m. kickoff.
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