CENTRAL NEW YORK – As the Section III Class C boys soccer playoffs get underway this week there is no question that Bishop Ludden is the prime target of every other title contender.
This is what happens when someone rises to the no. 2 spot in the state Class C rankings, as the Gaelic Knights did prior to last week’s first blemish of the season, which was quickly answered.
Ludden’s 14-game unbeaten run was ended by a large-school side, Watertown, in a 2-0 decision Monday afternoon.
A strong Cyclones defense limited the Gaelic Knights to just four shots, all stopped by Norm Cushman, and twice Watertown got the ball past Trey Dennis to go in front and stay there.
So Ludden went into Thursday’s regular-season finale against state no. 12-ranked Tully having to finally deal with bouncing back from a loss.
And it did so, putting away the Black Knights 3-1 in a game where the key was a first half where Ludden kept Tully off the board and moved out in front by a goal.
Jack Ruddy made sure the Black Knights didn’t rally, not only scoring twice but also getting an assist on Jack Marvin’s goal as Colden Sheen earned a pair of assists. Dennis only allowed a second-half tally by Connor Bastedo.
West Genesee was shut out for the second time this season by Fayetteville-Manlius, this time by a 2-0 margin.
A goal in each half by the state Class AAA no. 7-ranked Hornets was enough, Henry Dougherty getting one goal and assisting on the other by Keshav Gangireddy. Tom Helmer assisted on Dougherty’s tally.
It was closer Thursday night, but WG lost 2-1 to Liverpool, who went up 1-0 early and countered Nathan Quirk’s second-half goal, assisted by Sasha Pushkarenko, with one of its own. Cole Hamilton, in goal, recorded six saves.
Jordan-Elbridge/Cato-Meridian played Homer to a 1-1 draw Thursday night. Collin Tiel’s second-half countered a Trojans rally and the Eagles turned back everything else thanks to goalie Alex Kunz’s eight saves.
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