By PAUL GOTHAM
HILTON, N.Y. — A pair of three-game losing skids (one to start the season) created an uphill battle over the past 45 days or so for the Webster Schroeder boys’ soccer team.
Maybe the climb suits them best.
After a 2-nil win over No. 8 Hilton Thursday night, the No. 9 Warriors (7-6-3) have, for the first time this season, a win-loss record above .500.
“Just trying to keep the game as simple as possible and focus on the things that have been working for us,” said head coach Dave Urbanski after Schroeder extended its unbeaten streak to six – a stretch that includes five wins.
What’s working is a defense that hasn’t allowed a goal in over 500 minutes of game action.
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“The season really started to turn around when we got organized in the back,” Urbanski said. “We go out here and focus on trying to keep a clean sheet.”
Add in an opportunistic offense, and only Penfield (seven straight wins) has a better winning streak among the remaining sides AA.
“I knew we could do it,” said senior forward Sam Burton. “We play hard, play like a family. We’ve been preparing for this all season.”
Burton scored both goals in the win. His first, from less than 10 yards out, came in the seventh minute.
Making a run along the left wing, teammate Brayden Chase played a ball just outside the six that eluded Burton in the middle third. Nick Schillaci, running far post, one-timed a ball from the right that Burton easily redirected into the back of the net for his team-leading 11th goal of the season.
“That was just a great team effort,” Burton said of the goal. “B. Chase brought it up the left side. It was a little too far in front of me to reach. Luckily Nick Schillaci was on the other side and crossed it in. I was able to touch it in.”
Class AA 4’ @SoccerSchroeder strikes first. Sam Burton gets the scoring started. pic.twitter.com/PjKiClyTtS
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 24, 2024
“Getting the goal early is obviously what you want to have,” Urbanski said. “I wasn’t planning for that, but that gave us a boost. I don’t think we played a great first half, but we were organized. We didn’t give up terribly good chances to them.”
Burton’s second goal came from 60 yards out.
When the Cadets pushed forward for a free kick with less than five minutes remaining in the match, Burton took the subsequent clearance and sent it bounding in the direction of the empty Hilton frame.
“I saw the keeper out. Everyone was screaming ‘hit it.’ I just closed my eyes and smacked it as hard as I could. Next thing I know it was in the back of the net.”
Leo Cannon made six saves in Webster Schroeder’s 2-nil win over Hilton in AA action, Thursday. pic.twitter.com/izDB2mTjY9
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 25, 2024
Throughout the match, Hilton’s offense found little room to work in the final third of the field.
Led by a backline including Austin DeMartin, Jason Hanna, Ross Champlin, Aidan Ramirez and William Pembroke, Schroeder’s defense shrunk the field and allowed few open looks for the Cadets.
What opportunities Hilton (5-6-4) had, Leo Cannon was there for the stop.
“I always thought the backline was a strong suit of ours,” the junior keeper said. “We’ve just been working on it the whole year. These past couple of games, they’ve just been amazing. The backline has been stupendous. They listen to my instructions. If something gets by them, I’m there to sweep it up.”
Cannon finished with six saves for the shutout.
“Against this Hilton side, they’re very good, but we knew if we held a low block and countered, we would get our chances. And we did. It was pretty simple: win the ball, hit it up and have Sam Burton score the goals.”
Schroeder will play top-seeded Churchville-Chili in the quarterfinals next Tuesday. A 6:30 p.m. kick off is scheduled at Churchville.
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