By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — With the threat of storms Monday night Greece Arcadia head coach Scott Mikulski and Greece Athena gaffer Nick Defendorf opted to postpone their game 24 hours.
“It’s Athena and Arcadia,” Mikulski said. “”If the game got called at half because of the weather and you win, it would have felt cheap.”
The wait was worth it.
Brandon Owens capped a late rally with a goal in the 78th minute, and Arcadia improved to 2-0 on the season with a 2-1 victory.
“He’s one of our best in 1v1 situations,” Mikulski said of the sophomore midfielder. “As soon as the ball was played, I was screaming 1v1! Our guys pass too much, I think. I thought he was going to try and pass it. Just take it 1v1 and he did.”
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JENNIFER LAEMLEIN.
The play started in the middle third with George Romansky taking possession for Arcadia. Romansky served a ball ahead to Owens who took on one defender before cutting to his left. He delivered a left-footed strike into the opposite corner.
“It feels great,” Owens said. “To win against our rivals like that? It feels good. We put in a great team effort.”
78’ George Romansky leads Brandon Owens and Arcadia goes on to beat Athena 2-1. pic.twitter.com/doiVhMh4hm
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 10, 2024
Less than 15 minutes earlier the Titans were staring at a one-goal deficit.
“We were pretty composed especially when we were one goal down,” Owens said. “We just showed composure, leadership and perseverance.”
Romansky leveled the match when he took a Nick Pullano feed and finished inside the left post. Pullano won a ball along the right side, 50 yards from the net and split a pair of defenders with a pass. Romansky used a touch before delivering the equalizer.
64’ Nick Pullano wins a ball along the outer third and leads George Romansky behind the backline for the equalizer. pic.twitter.com/DCHdHyChVi
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 10, 2024
Arcadia had the better of the play for the first 15 minutes of the match and worked for a pair of shots on goal along with a corner kick and free kick from 35 yards out. But the Titans did not convert.
And chances were few for the rest of the first and early into the second half.
“Their defense was compact,” Mikulski said of Athena. “They had their back four playing tight…We just went out wider in the second half. After that first 10-15 minutes, they neutralized us. We just had to go out wide. That created opportunities for us late in the second half.”
That the Titans were in position to win was due in large part to the efforts of senior keeper Kasey Conrow.
“He’s one of the best keepers in Section V,” Mikulski said.
A First Team All-County performer a year ago, Conrow made 11 saves in Tuesday’s win. None better than when he turned away a point blank attempt from Landon Ambeau.
“Unbelievable,” Owens said of his teammate. “Unbelievable saves. He pretty much kept us in the game. If we went down 2-0, I don’t know if we would have been able to come back.”
Another big save from Kasey Conrow. pic.twitter.com/7SuEOFj16z
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 10, 2024
Ambeau gave Athena the lead with 22:38 remaining in the game when the junior midfielder sent a rocket into the back of the net from 25 yards out.
Arcadia rallied from there.
“We’re young,” said Mikulski who starts three ninth graders. “We’re going to move the ball well, but we’ll struggle in the final third. We’re a team that could surprise some people later in the season.”
Mikulski, in his 23rd as head coach, previously led Greece Odyssey from 2013-2023. Before that he coached Arcadia from 1998 to 2007. During that stretch, Athena head coach Nick Defendorf played for the Titans.
Arcadia travels to play at Eastridge on Wednesday. A 6 p.m. start is scheduled.
Athena hosts Canandaigua for a 6 p.m. start on Wednesday.
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