By PAUL GOTHAM
WAYNE, N.Y. — Jay Marino spent 18 years as an assistant with the Wayne Eagles under former head coach Tim Mattle.
Now in his first season as the leader, Marino guided the Eagles as they continued one of the program traditions on Tuesday night.
Josh Bolt converted a penalty kick and Kaleb Glessing executed on a set piece as Wayne defeated Palmyra-Macedon, 2-0.
With the win, Wayne (13-2-0/11-0-0) clinched the 2021 Finger Lakes East title.
“I learned a lot from Tim,” said Marino who played four years under the former coach before continuing his career at St. John Fisher College. “To be able to take over has been awesome.”
Wayne entered the contest averaging nearly four goals per game. Against Pal-Mac, though, it was the Eagles’ defense that stepped into the spotlight.
“Guys are running hard, getting back,” Marino said. “Team defense is really what we’ve been stressing all year, and it shows up in a game like this.”
9’ Josh Bolt draws the penalty and converts. @Wayne_soccer21 1-nil pic.twitter.com/XgWdXMN6hE
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 12, 2021
Junior keeper Alec Gilbert was credited with the shutout (his ninth of the season), but it was the backline play of Mike Gorsky, Zach Lasher, Noah Means and Jonah Schichtel that made the difference.
The Eagles’ defense limited the Pal-Mac goal-scoring opportunities for the duration of the contest. What chances the Red Raiders had, few could have been identified as threats.
“Our defense has been playing well lately,” Marino added. “They’ve really started to jell together. They have a good cohesiveness between them. It’s been a great dynamic with the four of them.”
That defense started in the midfield.
Josh Bolt leads the Eagles and is fourth in Section V with 26 goals. On Tuesday, he spearheaded the defensive effort.
“He’s a work horse in the middle,” Marino said of the senior. “He plays up and down the field the whole time.”
Bolt drew the penalty that sent him to the line less than nine minutes into the contest.
36’ Kaleb Glessing gets near post from Alex Cook. @Wayne_soccer21 2-0 pic.twitter.com/ayZObOp7Ie
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 12, 2021
Glessing had been denied twice by Pal-Mac keeper Robert Kinsman before he finally connected with 3:26 to go in the half. The senior midfielder made a near-post run on a free kick less than 10 yards from the end line and redirected an Alex Cook service for a two-goal lead heading into break.
“Pal-Mac is a team that if they pop one in it’s going to give them confidence,” Marino noted.
Wayne took a 4-nil decision when the two rivals met earlier in the season, but that was a game Pal-Mac played without Kinsman and leading scorer Logan Babcock (14 goals).
“We knew they would be coming out with a little bit more pressure than the first time,” Marino said. “With our guys this year, we just keep telling them to play their game. We go out and make opponents react to us.”
Wayne had three corner kicks in the second half that bounced in and around the 6-yard box without crossing the goal line.
Glessing’s goal was his third of the year. Cook has 10 assists to go with 10 goals.
The win was the 12th straight for the Eagles which have now won seven consecutive league titles. Since joining the Finger Lakes League in 1999, Wayne has won or shared 16 of 18 titles. Wayne left the Finger Lakes for soccer and played as an independent from 2010-2014. Marino served as the junior varsity coach for one year of the 18 years as an assistant under Mattle.
Pal-Mac (9-5-0/8-4-0) had won five of six games entering Tuesday’s contest. The Red Raiders will host Naples for the regular season finale on Friday.
Robert Kinsman punch out of the Kaleb Glessing attempt. No score eight minutes into the contest. pic.twitter.com/tG5oaidoia
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 12, 2021
Wayne travels to Penn Yan on Thursday to close the season slate.
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