Wilson/Early College turns tables to claim City Championship

The 2023 City Champions, Wilson Magnet/Early College Wildcats. (Photo: PAUL GOTHAM)

By PAUL GOTHAM

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Three different players found the back of the net as Wilson Magnet/Early College avenged a previous loss with a 3-1 win over World of Inquiry/Edison Tech/ Franklin/SOTA in the 2023 City Championship.

Paul Kiza connected on a corner kick opportunity to start the scoring. Dominick Kokyo won a foot race in the open field, and Ahmed Muhando converted a penalty kick for a 3-nil lead at halftime.

“The kids were really focused,” said Wilson head coach Josh Schipper. “You can see how much this means to them. They love it.”

The win was the sixth straight for Wilson/Early College (9-5-0) which will close its regular season on Friday with a game at Honeoye Falls-Lima.

Wilson Magnet/Early College players celebrate Ahmed Muhando’s goal. (Photo: PAUL GOTHAM)

21’ Ahmed Muhando converts a PK to give @wildcats_wilson a 3-nil lead. pic.twitter.com/Zcc0JbjHMp

— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 12, 2023

“We really came together as a team after a couple wins against Batavia and Greece Odyssey,” Schipper said. “We got some confidence from those wins. The kids have really put it together in the past couple of weeks.”

WOI/Edison/Franklin/SOTA (3-13-0) took a 3-nil decision when the two teams met on September 27th.

“Wilson was ready to play from the jump,” World of Inquiry head coach Rich Paufler said of Thursday’s match. “We had a couple mistakes that we made that cost us. The rest of it was a fairly-even battle.”

The 2023 City Championship All-Tournament Team. Top row (l-r): Paul Kiza (MVP), Enose Yohana, Kiza Dunia, Pah Gay and Ja’Sier Williams. Bottom row (l-r): Willmer Tamat Semet, Sawba Blut (Keeper of the Tournament) and Franklin Safari. Missing from photo: East High’s Freiity Garcia, Rowan Norquist and Ash Mohammed. (Photo: PAUL GOTHAM)

On a corner kick from the left flag, Kiza toe-tapped a ball into the far side netting for a 1-nil advantage. Kokyo battled two defenders and was able to catch WOI keeper Bereket Tremblay coming off his line for a two-goal lead.

“Last time when we played them, the boys were lackadaisical in warmups,” Schipper said. “After some wins and the belief from those games, they showed up today.”

Wilson/Early College’s Paul KIza (18) dribbles the ball upfield. World of Inquiry’s Gabriel Rodriguez (8) defends on the play. (Photo: PAUL GOTHAM)

Franklin Safari scored four minutes into the second half to get WOI on the scoreboard.

“I really wanted to see what we were made of in the second half,” Paufler said. “Whether we were going to step up and battle or we just going to lay down. I’m really proud of them for stepping up. We played a much better second half. We can hopefully build on that moving into sectionals.”

44’ Franklin Safari gets WOI/Edison/Franklin on the scoreboard. Wilson 3-1. pic.twitter.com/nxQtFZ4Lr4

— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 12, 2023

Wilson finished with an 8-7 advantage in shots on goal. The Wildcats took three corner kicks to two for the Griffins.

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