By PAUL GOTHAM
ONTARIO, N.Y. — There’s baptism by fire and then there’s how the boys’ soccer team of Wayne High christened the school district’s new turf field.
Nevin Crane’s golden goal capped a double overtime thriller as the No. 4 Eagles advanced to the Section V Class A semifinals with a 1-0 victory over No. 5 Greece Olympia.
“I pictured scoring a last-minute goal the entire time,” the senior midfielder said. “I didn’t know if it was going to come, but it did.”
The play started with Evan Fosdick taking possession of the ball in the middle third of the park and fanning a pass to Skyler Ferry along the right flank. Ferry cut the ball to his left with a pair of touches before finding Crane with his back to the goal just outside the 6-yard box.
“I was just thinking get a shot off,” Crane said. “I had so many of them this game and none of them went in. One of them had to go in eventually.”
Like a post player on the hardwood making a back-to-the basket move, Crane turned to the touch line before going far post for the game winner.
With 3:23 remaining in the second overtime, Nevin Crane connects. Wayne advances with a 1-nil victory. pic.twitter.com/XSHbySmJh9
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 21, 2023
“I was gassed,” he said. “Even the first period overtime, I wasn’t even in it. Then we gave it our all for the last 15 minutes because no one wants to go to pens (penalty kicks). It’s so nerve-wracking. That felt really good.”
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JEROME DAVIS.
The goal was Crane’s team-leading 26th of the season, but the first in program history on the new field.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet, but it feels good.”
Wayne came into the contest averaging more than four goals per game but was held scoreless for more than 105 minutes.
If Olympia wins this game, Dylan Mattice’s save on this play will be why. Fantastic reaction. pic.twitter.com/8eok1YatWM
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 21, 2023
Olympia keeper Dylan Mattice turned away 15 shots.
“That goalie was good,” Crane said. “He saved a lot of good shots. I ripped so many toward the corners, and he was just saving them all.”
Olympia’s senior keeper denied Blade Surowiec in the first overtime on a shot that looked destined to tuck under the crossbar. Mattice later smothered a Crane attempt from inside the 18 moments before the game winner.
Dylan Mattice pic.twitter.com/6T2wM6TFtN
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 21, 2023
“As I told my guys, it wasn’t as much as what we didn’t do (score goals) as it was what he did (save everything),” said third-year Wayne head coach Jay Marino.
Wayne (14-3-0) will play top-seeded Aquinas in the semis. The Li’l Irish defeated Wayne when the two teams met during the regular season.
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