Senior midfielder scores game winner with 4:27 remaining in regulation
By PAUL GOTHAM
WEST SENECA, N.Y. — This was a new challenge.
Less than 20 minutes remained in regulation of Saturday’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class AAA Far West Regional matchup, and the Fairport boys’ soccer team was staring at a deficit.
A Roland Wenk goal, with 26:08 on the clock, gave Section VI champion Lancaster a 2-1 lead.
From there, the reigning state champions played true to form.
The Red Raiders (17-0-0) converted on a pair of set pieces and went on to defeat Lancaster (14-5-0), 3-2.
Jackson Piacitelli connected on the game winner with 4:27 remaining in regulation.
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“Just saw the ball bounce back and knew I was in the right spot,” the senior midfielder said. “I just slammed it home.”
The play started from 41 yards out along the right flank. Sean Griffin served a ball to the back post that Alex Grejda was able to get a head on to it and play the ball back into open space.
Piacitelli sliced through a pair of Lancaster defenders and unleashed a right-footed blast for his third goal of the year.
“The whole postseason last year, we went down and came back and won,” Piacitelli said of the deficit. “We just kept the energy going. We bounced back and got the win.”
The Red Raiders had two goals disallowed earlier in the game. One on an offsides call in the opening moments of the contest. Then two minutes after the break another was waved off because of a foul.
Not long after that, Grejda cleared a ball off the line on a shot from Nikola Nikolov that was destined for the back of the net.
Trevor Scoppa then staked Fairport to a lead in the 48th minute.
Lancaster wasted little time responding.
Anthony Sirianni and Wenk scored back-to-back goals less than three minutes apart.
“We haven’t trailed all year,” said Red Raiders head coach, Bill Teasdale. “That was the first time. As a coach, it makes you wonder a little bit, but these guys are so resilient and they have so much toughness. They have a lot of mental toughness, and they showed it.”
Grejda leveled the match when he won another ball in the air off a Griffin free kick from 45 yards out.
“That ball from Sean to Grejda was great,” Piacitelli said. “It built some energy and momentum in us. We just had to fight back, persevere and get it done.”
The Red Raiders, ranked No. 1 in the state, extended their unbeaten streak to 36 games and advanced to the state semis where they will play either Elmira (IV) or Guilderland (II).
“It’s keeping our composure and knowing who we are,” Piacitelli said of the Red Raiders ability to keep winning. “It’s all about the next game. We’re just going to focus on the semifinals, now.”
Evan Furciniti made nine saves in the win.
Great Job Fairport!!!!!!