Soccer
Still a puzzle: York boys' soccer heads to playoffs
By Uwe Seeler
Boys' soccer heads to Lincoln Academy for the start of playoff action this week. Pictured here is Greg Wilson in a recent Wildcats regular season game.
Photo by Kate Rasche
The final week of the regular season left matters still unclear, with a 1-0 victory at Freeport and a 0-0 draw at home against Cape Elizabeth. The draw against Cape likely cost the Wildcats any home starts in the post-season.
The Wildcats are now set for a trip way up north to Lincoln Academy on Saturday, Oct. 21 for their first playoff game. York finished the regular season at 8-4-2.
YORK 0, CAPE 0
If nothing else, the game last Thursday, Oct. 12, at York, was certainly entertaining. The action was non-stop throughout the game, and the draw was deserved on both sides.While the Capers controlled play at the outset, York nearly went up 1-0 when Ryan Clausen hit the far post with a low screamer against the run of play at 27 minutes.
With a still-ailing Joe Corsello on the bench, Cape continued to control the midfield and aggressively pushed their outside mids into the attack, putting the Wildcats repeatedly back on their heels. Strong work by keeper Dan Graziano kept the sheet clean, but just barely as the Capers missed several chances from in close.
Alex Ciccolini-Foley managed to get in a hard, low shot in a counter-attack, but the possession and pressure came from Cape in this half, with their mids and even outside backs flooding into the offense far ahead of the York mids who often lagged far behind the play.
The offensive energy of the first half appeared to catch up with Cape in the second half, and York began to pick up control. Phil Alibrandi nearly put the Wildcats up off a toe-poke from in close, followed by Ciccolini-Foley with a great solo run and hard shot off the keeper's hands. The ball laid out for an easy tap in but no York players were there in support, a trait that has plagued the Wildcats all year.
At the 27 minute mark, Cape countered, just missing on a corner and then forcing Graziano to make a big stop on a blast from the short side. Cape continued to pressure and it was only outstanding play from Greg Wilson, heading the ball off the line and breaking up plays inside the box, that kept the game even.
In overtime, Cape's tank seemed to run dry and York, switching to a more aggressive 4-3-3 formation, carried the pressure. Alibrandi and Matt Prewitt both had good looks but could not convert, and the game ended 0-0. Junior Will Russell had a strong game in goal for the Capers, whose post-season hopes were up in the air after the draw.
YORK 1, FREEPORT 0
Earlier in the week, the Wildcats won at Freeport, getting past the defensive-minded Falcons 1-0 on Oct. 10.Clauson's goal mid-way through the first half would prove to be all that York needed to win this one.
York nearly went up in the opening minutes when the Falcons were called for a PK after taking down Ciccolini-Foley in the box, but the keeper parried the shot and York was unable to finish on the rebound.
This was a physical game and neither side developed any sustained, crisp play on offense.
Playoff action begins Saturday for the Boys' Soccer Western Maine Quarterfinals. York Coach Jeff Smith could not be reached as of press time for comment on his thoughts for the team heading into the playoffs.
