By PAUL GOTHAM
GENESEO, N.Y. — The Keshequa boys’ soccer team found the back of the net on 103 occasions in 2020. The Indians finished 16-1-0 and won their second straight sectional title.
More than 84 percent of that team’s offense graduated.
The current Keshequa XI version has proven themselves as capable understudies.
Reese Powers and Avery Strobel netted a goal apiece as Keshequa closed the 2021 regular season Thursday night with a 2-nil win over Geneseo in Livingston County Athletic Association action.
With the victory, its 12th straight, Keshequa (No. 8 NYSSWA Class C) improved its record to 14 wins and 2 losses without a tie. The Indians will enter the Section V Class C2 tournament that begins next week as the No. 1 seed.
“Our senior class last year was so talented,” head coach Ron Macomber, Jr. said. “These guys didn’t get a chance to show what they can do. This year they’re getting a chance, and a lot of them are taking advantage of it.”
Powers and Strobel have combined to score 27 of Keshequa’s 72 goals season. The tandem pressured Geneseo’s backline throughout Thursday’s contest.
“They play really well together,” Macomber said of the seniors. “Reese has been up since a freshman, Avery since a sophomore.”
Avery Stroebel runs on to the lead from Reese Powers to start the scoring. Well-earned marker for Stroebel. @KeshBoyssoccer 1 @GCSBlueDevils 0 pic.twitter.com/6SMgAMarv1
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 14, 2021
Powers fed a long ball over the defense that Strobel ran on to for the game’s first goal with 10:45 remaining in the first half. Strobel helped set up Powers for his marker with 29:42 left in the contest.
“They read each other well and create a lot of chances for us,” Macomber added. “Hopefully they’ll keep it rolling.”
Sterling Strain wins a ball at midfield and sends Avery Strobel along the left flank. Reese Powers finishes the play with his 19th marker of the season. @KeshBoyssoccer 2-0. pic.twitter.com/zlMXpUMJKV
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 14, 2021
Both Powers and Strobel produced for the 2021 Keshequa squad scoring 13 and four goals respectively.
For Macomber, though, it’s been the emergence of players like Rene Figueroa, Sterling Strain, Nathan Thayer and Hunter Wood.
“It’s good to see them get their chances and run with it.”
Figueroa has made the biggest jump this season. A 6-foot-1 midfielder, his contributions go beyond his two goals and one assist.
“He’s probably been our biggest surprise this year,” Macomber said. “He kinda came out of nowhere, and he’s had one heckuva year for us. He does a lot of the dirty work for us – ball winning, distributing the ball. He covers a lot of ground, and he’s been outstanding all year for us.”
The shutout was the third in four games for a team that has outscored opponents by a combined total of 72-10 this season.
Tyler Mallaber made six saves for the clean sheet – the seventh such performance of the season and second against Geneseo (9-4-2).
Tyler Mallaber denies @GCSBlueDevils on the corner kick. pic.twitter.com/l3fXX1ZeDT
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 14, 2021
“We try to knock the ball around a little, but we also emphasize that we have to keep shape in the back,” Macomber said of his team’s philosophy. “We’ve struggled finishing this year. We create a lot of chances. It’s just putting the ball away.”
Keshequa hasn’t lost since September 14th when it fell to Avon, 1-0. The Indians avenged that setback with a 3-1 victory on September 30th.
Thayer assisted on Powers’s goal.
Powers has 26 assists for the season and 79 in his career.
Work from Reese Powers (8) nearly produces third @KeshBoyssoccer goal. pic.twitter.com/Bf2rvmCpvN
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 15, 2021
Riley Rease led Keshequa in 2020 with 31 goals. Jake Schiano added 20 tallies for ’20 squad.
Section V will announce post-season pairings on Saturday.
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