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Wolverines hold off Chautauqua Lake

OBSERVER Photo by Jay Young Westfield/Brocton’s Darien Swanson settles the ball during Monday’s CCAA Central Division game against Chautauqua Lake in Mayville.

MAYVILLE — Chautauqua Lake continued to fight hard through the final minutes of Monday night’s Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Central Division contest, but in the end visiting Westfield/Brocton (3-3, 3-3) was able to hold on to its early lead on the way to a 3-1 victory.

Brad Babcock and the Wolverines’ defense turned away chance after chance in the second half, as the Thunderbirds (4-2, 3-2) tried desperately to shrink a two-goal margin on a cold and rainy field.

Babcock would finish with eight saves in a strong performance between the pipes, while Chautauqua Lake’s Tate Olson put on a goaltending clinic of his own on the way to a nine-save night.

“It is a big rivalry with Westfield, so I don’t expect anything less,” Chautauqua Lake coach Mike Putney said. “You just have to make the most of your opportunities when the time presents itself, and we will. We’ll come back stronger.”

Ten minutes in to the second half, Olson would rouse the home crowd when Josh Barresi was able to break free on a rush, firing a low shot on net that was punched away with a diving effort.

Seven minutes later, Olson came up with another beauty, denying Carson Swanson a chance in close.

“He is a phenomenal goalie, and it doesn’t matter what conditions he’s in,” Putney said. “He just comes out and plays and he made some spectacular saves tonight. Unfortunately, they capitalized on their opportunities and we did not. So we’ve got to go back to the drawing board and work harder.”

Westfield/Brocton would waste no time getting on the board early, as Darien Swanson was able to was able to control a head ball in close to Josh Heim for a quick finish 50 seconds into the game.

The Wolverines would come close to adding another tally10 minutes in to the half, when Easton Seger was given a free kick from 30 yards out. That ball was sent in close, finding a head, before being cleared out of danger.

Battling back in the early going for the Thunderbirds was Carson D’Anthony with a bending shot that was grabbed by Babcock. Minutes later, Devin Putney sent a crossing ball inside the 18-yard-box that was once again cut off by the Westfield/Brocton keeper.

With the clock showing 14:23, the visitors would be on the right side of a crucial penalty call, as Aiden Gatto collided with Olson during a foot race for a loose ball. Westfield/Brocton would be awarded a penalty kick on the play, with Darien Swanson getting the call and opting for a low shot.

Olson would make a terrific save on the initial try, but Darien Swanson was able to follow that up with an open rebound chance that made it 2-0.

“He is our PK taker. He’s usually lights out with those as well,” head coach Jared Winder said of Swanson. “That (first goal) was big. We executed well there. It is always very uplifting for the team to come out and get a goal early. It helps deaden some nerves and helps the team settle in.”

See WOLVERINES, Page B2

After falling into a two-goal hole, the Thunderbirds would ramp up the urgency, finally getting on the scoreboard with 11:14 remaining as Putney sent a crossing ball in close that was banged home on a header by D’Anthony.

Unfortunately, the Wolverines would get their two-goal lead back in the final minute of the first half. The third goal of the night was sent home when Micah Heim sprang Swanson on a rush, where the junior midfielder was able to beat Olson with a low shot from the left side.

“He’s one of our key focal points to our offense and the way we work,” Winder said of Swanson. “He makes great passes, he sees the field well. Always puts a lot of shots on frame. He’s just a great leader for our team, does a great job executing.”

Chautauqua Lake would not relent after halftime, notching early chances in the second period on a volley by Putney that was struck wide, and another close chance on a corner kick from Hunter Harris.

Down the final stretch, Devin Putney would earn another opportunity on a head ball that was grabbed by Babcock, Jackson Janicki would have a nice look on a free kick that was also grabbed, and Elias Quintero would have another chance with a shot in close.

“Our goalie, Brad Babcock, did an excellent job, he played out of his mind today,” Winder said. “He did a really nice job of keeping us in it as well as our defense. They did an excellent job. Offensively, we continued to try and make chances but having the two goal lead as the second half got a little later we just focused a little bit more defensively, tried to limit the chances that they had. I think we did a nice job of that.”

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