By PAUL GOTHAM
CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. — A touch of a cold wasn’t going to stop Connor Feehan from taking the field Wednesday night, though his coach, Ray Maxwell, wasn’t 100 percent confident of the possibility.
Make no mistake, there was no missing Feehan on the pitch at Canandaigua Academy. The junior attacker orchestrated the Livonia offense early, and the Bulldogs went on to defeat Bishop Kearney/Chesterton, 2-0 in the New York State Class B Boys’ Regional Qualifier.
“He’s a fabulous player,” Maxwell said. “He’s been sick the last couple of days. It was questionable whether he was going to play. I wasn’t able to give him much of a break.”
Feehan found open space in the middle third of the pitch early in the match. He created a pair of scoring opportunities for teammates. When his opportunity came, he took advantage and started the scoring.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM DENNIS JOYCE HERE.
Feehan started the play along the left flank and found Colin Ullock as a target in the middle third. Ullock wasted little time and played the ball to Jackson McEnerney on the right. McEnerney played a back-post service to Feehan who never stopped running on the play. Feehan one-timed it for his team-leading 15th goal of the season.
29’ Beauty of a goal. Jackson McEnerney lofts a pass into the area, and Connor Feehan finishes. Livonia 1-0. pic.twitter.com/QA2oy69hw0
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 2, 2022
“We were playing well off each other,” Feehan said referring to McEnerney along with Livonia’s wingers and front line players. “That creates a lot of open space at the top of the box.”
Kearney/Chesterton head coach Stephen Strauss knew the consequences of the early goal.
“You’re down one-nothing against Livonia, you got your work cut out for you,” he said. “They’re so disciplined it’s hard to rally. We just couldn’t quite crawl back into it. I wish we were a little more tuned in in the moment.
“Livonia is great at pressing. They like to put pressure on the ball and make you play backwards and play negative. They did a good job of that early. That goal they scored was a great goal.”
Keegan Dennis added to the lead in the 65th minute.
“We really had to have a very gritty performance tonight,” Maxwell said. “I thought we played well, a little bit better than the last game. I’m delighted.”
65’ Keegan Dennis cleans up in front. Livonia 2 Kearney/Chesterton 0 pic.twitter.com/RIumiFlLqX
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 2, 2022
Kearney (16-2-1), which won its fifth sectional title in program history over the weekend, was looking for its second trip to regionals.
“I think they’re the best team we’ve played,” Maxwell said. “I expected them to be good. They were fabulous. They were even better than I expected. Speedy, quick and move the ball. They always seem to have somebody open. I can see how they won as many games as they have
Maxwell pointed to the play of center back Mike Neckers and right halfback James Spezzano.
“I thought they were outstanding tonight. The kids really dug down and pulled out a great win for the school.”
Massive stop by Michael Neckers. Livonia 2-0 with 8 to go. pic.twitter.com/8bQy7gRn3F
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 2, 2022
Livonia clinched its eighth regional appearance in program history and first since 2016 when the Bulldogs made five straight runs to the state quarterfinals.
Feehan was an elementary school student who tagged along with the head coach and his family. The importance of getting the program back to the regionals was not lost upon the current Bulldog.
I”t means a lot. I’ve been watching this team ever since I was little. I was always pretty close to the Maxwells, so I would always travel to regionals and states with them. Now to actually be a part of it is hard to explain. It means a lot.”
Livonia (18-1-1) will play Section VI champion Lewiston-Porter (20-0-1) in regionals.
An 11 a.m. start time is scheduled at Spencerport High School on Saturday.
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