By PAUL GOTHAM
EAST ROCHESTER, N.Y. — They had clinched back-to-back Wayne County league titles nearly two weeks earlier, but the host East Rochester Boys’ soccer team showed no signs of being satisfied when they took Don Quinn Field, Wednesday night.
The Bombers grabbed a lead midway through the first half and cruised to a 4-nil victory over Williamson.
The win capped an unbeaten season (12-0-0) in league play.
“Our team is going to be remembered for these past two years,” said Liam Kinney who scored his team-leading 23rd and 24th goals of the season in the win. “We’re a good team. We keep winning. My boys get it done for us.”
Kinney went near post from 25 yards out to start the scoring. He capped the offensive output when he converted off a pass from teammate Dom Romach.
“I took a touch on the ball, looked up,” he said of the first goal “I just ripped it, and it went in the back of the net.
“It feels really good. I’ve never scored on them (Williamson ) in my career. It made me really happy.”
Alex Entz turned in his eighth straight shutout and 15th of the season. The senior keeper made three saves on the night. None better than a late stop when he came off his line to deny a chance from Williamson’s leading scorer, Tim Niles.
“For me, that save meant everything,” Entz said. “I’ve never beaten them twice in one season.
“I was waiting for him to open up his hips or shoot far post or take another touch. He took that heavy touch, and that’s when I knew I could come out and get it.”
42’ Judah Tanner moves forward and takes advantage of the fourth @ERBombers corner of the night to give the Bombers a 2-nil lead over @WillMarauders pic.twitter.com/lpwrUSvBCP
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 17, 2024
53’ Dom Romach steps in front of a clearing, beats a defender to create space and takes advantage of a screen to give @ERBombers a 3-nil lead. pic.twitter.com/Z4hAW8Dhy2
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 17, 2024
65’ Dom Romach works the end line and plays to Liam Kinney for his second of the night. @ERBombers 4-nil pic.twitter.com/jdZBqJXwOR
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 17, 2024
A year ago, ER finished 11-1-0 in league play. Their only loss coming at the hands of Williamson. This season, the Marauders ended up being the only Wayne County league team to score against the Bombers.
A backline anchored by Eliot Marino and Judah Tanner that includes Jordan Lampman and Bradley Chambers-Silva helped ER outscore league opponents by a combined total of 58-2.
“We get to the balls first,” Tanner said. “We read the ball really well, and our coaches are always giving us great advice from the sideline. It makes our job easier.”
Tanner pushed up on one of ER’s five corner kicks on the night and scored his first goal of the season.
“I’ve been waiting for it. I kept hitting them, but it just didn’t go in.”
Dom Romach had goal and an assist in the win. Perry Francis and Eli Tanner accounted for an assist apiece.
East Rochester (15-1-0) will be the top seed in Class C1 when sectionals open next week. The Bombers fell to Byron-Bergen/Elba 1-0 in the 2023 C1 final. That Byron-Bergen/Elba team advanced to the NYS Class C final. The Bees are currently the No. 3 seed in Class C1.
“For us, and Liam is a perfect example of this, it was finding that killer mindset game in, game out,” ER head coach Mike Yacuzzo said of the regular season accomplishments. “It was don’t stop until you get it done. Celebrate when the final whistle comes and try to find a way to take every single game as if we are a clean slate, zero-zero. Not 10-and-1, not 12-and-1. We have to show up every single game ready to go. They have bought into that mentality.
“We have to set it and forget it because when it comes down to it, it is win or go home and that’s the mentality we’ve tried to have all season long. We’ve talked about it. We’ve had fun with it and then it’s just business. Unfortunately, you can’t have that much fun with it (league title) because unless you win the whole thing, there’s not much to be excited about.”
Sectional brackets will be announced this Saturday.
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