‘Survive and advance’; Simmons lifts Sutherland with late Olimpico

By PAUL GOTHAM

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — The final in a series of four corner kicks was the difference.

Ollie Simmons delivered a service from the right flag that didn’t need any additional help to cross the goal line, and No. 2 Pittsford Sutherland (11-5-0) advanced with a 2-1 win over No. 10 Aquinas (14-4-1) in Section V Class A Boys’ Soccer action from Ordiway Field, Friday night.

“Sometimes you got to have a little bit of luck,” said first-year head coach CJ Knapp. “I saw it go off his foot and I was just praying: Please, please, please, and it went in. That’s a great goal.”

On two of the previous corner kick attempts, the Knights chose to play the ball short and look to attack off the dribble.

“We always check and see how many defenders are coming at us,” Simmons said. “If we have the opportunity to go short, we take it. That one we decided to go long and I’m happy we did.”

76’ Class A: Olimpico! Ollie Simmons, from the right flag, connects just inside the far post and ⁦⁦@SHSsoccersquad⁩ goes on to a 2-1 win over Aquinas. Sutherland advances to the semis. ⁦@PCSDAthletics⁩ pic.twitter.com/2UOXZoNH4G

— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 24, 2025

Sutherland avenged a loss to Aquinas that came during a three-game slide in mid-September.

“We struggled with Aquinas earlier in the year,” Knapp said. “They’re not a ‘four-win team.’ They’re better than their record suggests. They’re a very skilled team. We haven’t beaten them in a few years. This was a nice victory not just for our guys this year, but for our guys in the past.”

Aquinas took an early lead when Omega Luyindula scored with an assist from Frank Safari.

Max Morgenstern converted a penalty kick to level the match.

Sutherland will face No. 3 Batavia in the semifinals.

“It’s great,” Knapp said. “We’ve been able to turn the tables on all of those teams that beat us during the first half of the season. Now it’s sectionals. Survive and advance.”

The loss brought a close to the tenure of Aquinas head coach Josh Gleason who announced prior to the Li’l Irish’s final home game that he would be stepping down after the completion of the season. Gleason led the Aquinas program for 13 seasons. His 2023 squad, led by All-American Ali Shabani, went undefeated in winning the New York State Class A title.