By PAUL GOTHAM
WEST SENECA, N.Y. — Through the first 20 games of the 2023 season, Colin Rea’s contributions to the Byron-Bergen/Elba offense amounted to one assist.
The sophomore midfielder picked the right time to connect on his first goal of the campaign.
Rea’s right-footed blast with 16:58 remaining in the second half was the game winner as the Bees clinched a spot in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class C semifinals with a 2-1 victory over Section VI champion, Wilson in Far West Regional action, Friday from West Seneca West High School.
“It couldn’t have come at a better time,” Rea said. “I just wanted to score there. I saw an opportunity to shoot.”
He took possession of the ball along the left flank and beat one defender to get near the corner of the 18-yard box.
The 5-foot-10 Rea drew another Wilson player before cutting the ball back and going near post with a shot that split a pair of defenders.
“It felt good. It felt really good when I hit it. I knew it was going in the back of the net.”
With the win, Byron-Bergen/Elba advances to the state semifinals for the first time since 2017.
“That’s crazy,” he said. “It’s amazing. There’s not a better feeling.”
Leading scorer Jack Farner (35 goals, 6 assists) staked the Bees to an early advantage when the junior redirected a Colin Martin free kick from 30 yards out for a 1-0 lead less than 11 minutes into the contest.
But the Wilson defense gave Farner little room for the remainder of the evening. When Farner managed on rare occasion to find an opening, Lakemen keeper Jake Austin was there for the stop.
“Jack scored nine goals in sectionals,” Rea said. “Someone else just had to step up. He was getting covered.”
64’ Colin Rea connects from 25 yards out to give Byron-Bergen/Elba a 2-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/7Z0FM2Xjrh
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 3, 2023
Byron-Bergen/Elba outshot Wilson, 9-6. It was the quality, though, of those attempts as both Farner and Colin Martin eluded the Wilson backline for one-on-one attempts on separate situations. Austin was up to the task.
“I got to give props to their keeper,” Byron-Bergen/Elba head coach Ken Rogoyski said. “He was amazing. One of the best keepers we’ve faced this year.
“The game was played in their half. I’m pretty sure most of the stats are in our favor for possession, but his saves were just ridiculous. He was that good. A weaker keeper and we would have had five or six goals.”
11’ Jack Farner gets a touch on a Colin Martin free kick to give Byron-Bergen/Elba the early lead. pic.twitter.com/hq8l8VDUjc
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 3, 2023
David Gurski provided the equalizer for Wilson (15-3-2) in the 16th minute.
16’ David Gurski gets the equalizer for Wilson. pic.twitter.com/gqNCnmOVTL
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 3, 2023
Byron-Bergen/Elba (18-2-1) will play either Fabius Pompey (III) or Seton Catholic (IV) next Saturday in the state semifinals. The game will be held at Goshen High School.
The Bees advanced to the state finals in 2017 before falling to Lansing (IV) in overtime. The Byron-Bergen is 4-1 overall in all-time appearances in the regionals with wins also in 2002 and 2005.
Leave a Reply