By PAUL GOTHAM
GENESEO, N.Y. — On the scoreboard, an early goal proved to be the difference.
On the pitch, a tireless defense limited chances.
When it was over, the number of unbeaten sides in Section V Boys’ Soccer was reduced by one, and the No. 5 team in the state saw its season come to an end.
Josh Harter scored in the ninth minute, and No. 5 Avon (12-6-1) held on to beat No. 1 Livonia (17-1-1), 1-0 in Section V Class B semifinal action from Geneseo High School, Wednesday evening.
Harter tapped in his team-leading 10th goal of the season from inside the 6-yard box.
“That was an easy layup,” said Harter a point guard on the school’s basketball team. “Every time we get that (a free kick from distance), we’re trying to hit Trevor’s head. He made a good play. He’s one of the best in the air. I was surprised how open I was, for sure. It was easy.”
The play started at midfield where teammate Brody McDowell lofted a free kick from 60 yards away. Trevor Stroud won a ball in the air along the left side and played it to Harter, undefended, on the opposite post.
Livonia entered play having scored 84 goals on the season including the 12 games leading up to Wednesday in which the Bulldogs found the back of the net on four or more occasions in each game.
Class B 9’ @avon_central strikes first. Trevor Stroud plays a Brody McDowell service from the mid stripe to Josh Harter for a 1-nil lead. pic.twitter.com/mMeX3IoBzH
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 31, 2024
A response from the Bulldogs was expected.
Instead it was Avon’s defense which had most of the answers on this night. While not technically proficient in the manner of clearing the ball, the Riverhawks denied Livonia the chance to really find rhythm on offense.
“We went into this game knowing we had to win every single ball to give us the extra chance to win,” Stroud said. “That team is very well-coached, very disciplined. We had to outwork them.”
If one Riverhawk didn’t pursue the ball, it was a swarm of white jerseys.
The effect? Livonia rarely looked comfortable. The Bulldogs finished the game having only earned four corner kicks. All of those came in the second half. They worked for one set piece in the Avon end during the opening 40 minutes, and that was a free kick from 48 yards out.
By not allowing themselves to be put in compromising positions, Avon avoided penalties that would result in opportunities for Livonia.
The shutout was the third straight for Avon which has not allowed a goal in the postseason. Sophomore keeper Jack DeVito made three saves for the clean sheet.
“It’s about keeping your shape and containing when you close out,” said Avon head coach Tony Patti who credited assistant coach Scott Onderdonk for his work with the Riverhawks’ defense. “Communication is important because if we do ball chase, they’re going to pass around us and make us look silly. They (Livonia) are so good at moving the ball.”
As a result of Avon’s defensive effort, Livonia struggled to string passes together or at least struggled to push forward by connecting passes.
“Where ever the ball was, we were just trying to make a play,” McDowell said. “We have a defense that we put in a lot of effort. We were either trying to possess it or just kick it out.”
Livonia had its chances. Brady O’Keefe hit the post off a redirect of a corner kick. On another play, Colin Ullock made a run along the left flank before serving a ball that bounded along the six-yard box line begging for a redirect at the far post. No play was made.
Livonia had won 13 straight games heading into Wednesday. Their lone blemish of the season a 1-1 draw with reigning Class B champion, Hornell. The Bulldogs were looking to return to the finals and possibly win their second title in three years.
“It was a dream season,” said Livonia head coach Ray Maxwell. “That’s why I’m surprised and disappointed that it came to an end the way it did. This is going to hurt for a while.
“They (Avon) came to play. They’re one of the best teams we’ve played this year. We’ve been kinda hot and cold and up and down. We didn’t really know what to expect. They looked great right off the bat. We’ve been a high-scoring team, but we really didn’t create chances tonight. They’re good in the back. Their goalie’s good. Their defense is good. They deserved to win.”
Livonia’s lone free kick of the second half in the Avon end came with less than five minutes remaining in the match. Max McEnerney played a service from 45 yards out.
Fittingly, McDowell made a play in the air and volleyed the ball away from Avon’s 18-yard box.
“He’s the leader of our team,” Patti said of the senior center back. “He’s a quiet leader, but he’s the backbone of this team.”
Avon will face reigning champion, Hornell in Saturday’s Class B championship. A 5 p.m. kickoff is scheduled at Honeoye Falls-Lima.
“At this point we’re going to enjoy this win, and we got to be on to the next one,” Harter said. “We’re looking for a block.”
“Job’s not finished,” McDowell added.
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