AVON, N.Y. — Dominic Patti’s goal in the 37th minute proved to be the game winner as host Avon (No. 1 NYSSWA Class C) defeated Pavilion/York 2-0, Tuesday night.
Patti took advantage of a rebound just outside the 6-yard box to score his seventh goal of the season.
“We were controlling the game,” the junior attacker said. ” We were hoping to pop one in just like we did. We had control of the game and momentum. That’s all we wanted.”
The play started on the right side of the field when a trio of defenders converged on Lee Hartke. Jacob Weslowski gathered a loose ball and fired a shot on net. Pavilion/York goalkeeper Kaylen Peffers denied the opportunity, but Patti stayed with the play and finished at the near post.
Dominic Patti takes advantage of a second/chance opportunity to give Avon a 1-nil lead. pic.twitter.com/4vit4QlYdn
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 28, 2022
With the win, Avon (10-0-0/4-0-0) took sole possession of first place in Livingston County Athletic Association Division II. Pavilion/York (7-2-0/3-1-0) dropped into second.
“It was really big,” Patti said of the win. “But it was just one game. All that matters is getting to the finals and winning.”
Patti’s goal came at the end of a first half that saw the Braves dictate most of the play but get turned away on repeated attempts by Peffers.
“I’ve seen enough soccer games where you can dominate play and you just don’t put it in,” said Avon head coach Tony Patti. “But I’ve seen these guys enough to know that they’ll figure it out and they’ll make the plays when they are there. I knew we just had to be patient, and they would come through.”
Great opportunity created by Lee Hartke. pic.twitter.com/HH9sDmwnYD
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 27, 2022
Christopher Kashorek needed to make just one save for the shutout – Avon’s seventh straight clean sheet and eighth overall. Patti pointed to the play of Hartke and Hudson Volpe in the middle third of the field.
“I’m a very blessed coach to have those guys anchor the middle of our field,” the elder Patti noted. “They’ve played together for a long time. They understand the game and they understand what we’re trying to accomplish as a system. They play that system. They’re huge for us keeping the ball and switching the point of attack.”
Pavilion/York came into the game winners of four consecutive – a stretch in which they had outscored opponents 19-2.
Dominic Patti came this close. pic.twitter.com/8Ua1nAW3vO
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 28, 2022
“Our guys were really prepared for this game,” Patti said. “They gave tremendous effort. I’m very pleased with our possession. Pavilion/York has a great offense, but when we can keep the ball and not let them have it, we don’t see as much from that offense.”
Hartke drew a penalty inside the 18-yard box and converted a PK in the 68th minute to add an insurance tally.
Avon’s offense earned nine corner kicks to none for P/Y. The Braves took 23 shots.
After a dry first 20 minutes of action, the game was played during intermittent showers.
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