By PAUL GOTHAM
EAST ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Prior to East Rochester’s Wayne County league matchup with Sodus, Eliot Marino’s responsibilities on set pieces centered around free kicks.
Just last week, the junior outside back lofted a service from 55 yards out that teammate Perry Francis redirected for a goal.
After Wednesday’s outcome on Don Quinn Field, Marino might be adding corner kicks to his duties as part of the Bombers’ attack.
Marino finished with two assists and a goal, all on corner kicks, as host ER (10-0-1) continued its unbeaten march with a 3-nil victory over the Spartans.
“I took probably eight tonight,” he said. “We capitalized on three of them. I don’t think we can do that every game, but it was great. We needed it tonight.”
Marino set up Judah Tanner for the first goal of the game with 4:29 remaining in the first half. The Bombers doubled the lead on their third corner kick opportunity of the second half when Jordan Lampman took care of the finish.
Marino credited the angle he was able to get on his services.
“I’m way better with my in-swingers and seven out of the eight of them were in-swingers,” he said. “Those are just like bread and butter for me, practice those forever.”
Both Tanner and Lampman won battles in the air either just outside or inside the six-yard box. Tanner threw his body at the ball like a defensive back making an open-field tackle. Lampman used his six-foot frame to tower above others in his area.
“I just let it go,” Marino said. “I try to put it close to the keeper. Coach always tells me to put it to the penalty spot, but putting it a little closer when we have these huge guys – four guys in there over six foot. If I put it near the keeper, the keeper isn’t going to get it. One of our tall guys is going to get there. They make my job easier. I’m lucky to have them.”
Marino took it himself for the third goal and his first marker of the season.
“It came off my foot wrong,” he said of the insurance goal with (9:25 left in the game). “I did not even mean to put it on target like it was, but it just worked. It was my night, I guess.”
The shutout was the second straight and fourth this season for the Bombers. Head coach Matt LaFontaine credited his backline of Alexander Eaton, Clark LaFontaine, Lampman and Marino who did not allow a shot on goal over the final 40 minutes and limited Sodus to one chance on net for the game.
“I can’t say enough about the four defenders. Especially since Judah Tanner who was First Team All-League defense last year. This year, we’re still that good on defense without a First Team All-League defender back there. We made some adjustments. To our boys’ credit, they’re good with anything we try. I love them for it.”
East Rochester, the reigning Section V Class C1 champion, improved to 8-0-0 in league play. The Bombers went unbeaten a year ago in the Wayne County action and last lost to a league foe on September 28th, 2023.
“It’s been great,” Marino said. “I’ve been blessed since my freshman year. I’ve lost three games. I just have had a great group of guys the whole time that I’ve been on the team. Now it’s my time to be the leader and just keep it going with what East Rochester has been doing for years now.”
East Rochester travels to Gananda for a 3:00 p.m. kickoff on Saturday. ER beat the Blue Panthers, who are 6-1-0 in the league, 1-0 in the previous meeting.
Sodus travels to Williamson on Friday for a 6:30 p.m. start time.
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