Local Sports

Overtime thriller

Stoughton's golden goal sends Wolverines into semifinals

WESTFIELD -- Having allowed just eight goals this season, the Westfield/Brocton boys soccer team is not accustomed to coming from behind very often.

On Thursday, the Wolverines were forced to do it twice.

No. 3 Westfield/Brocton erased deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 before Caleb Stoughton's golden goal in the 105th minute sent the Wolverines past No. 6 Chautauqua Lake 3-2 in a Section VI Class C quarterfinal at the NorthLake Family Recreation Complex.

"We respect them and I know they respect us," Westfield/Brocton head coach Jay Pikiewicz said of the Eagles. "It was heartfelt both ways, the loss for them and the win for us. I'm glad we pulled it out."

Westfield/Brocton carried play for much of the opening 15-minute overtime session, but was unable to convert a pair of corner kicks in addition to Caleb Freifeld's attempt with 30 seconds remaining that was deflected off the crossbar by Eagles goalkeeper Landon Emery before the Wolverines' Dawsen Gambino just missed the far post on a rebound opportunity.

Chautauqua Lake actually put together its best push since giving up its 2-1 lead early in the second 15-minute overtime and in the third minute, Carter Crabtree had his team's best chance, but Wolverines goalkeeper Nolan Anderson made a diving save to keep it 2-2.

Then, in the 10th minute, Westfield/Brocton defender Mike Cettell made a run into the Eagles' end of the field and was fouled in the corner of the Wolverines' offensive end.

"Michael's push actually made that game change right there," Pikiewicz said.

Parker Gambino took the free kick and sent it into the middle of Chautauqua Lake's 18-yard box where it bounced around before being possessed by teammate Caleb Stoughton. The junior then found some space and got the ball to his right foot before sending a shot toward the corner of the Chautauqua Lake goal that bounced off the goalpost and the back of Emery into the corner of the net, sending Stoughton and his teammates to the corner of the pitch for a wild celebration.

"They had their one good opportunity and they punched it in," Chautauqua Lake head coach Connor Barnes said. "It kind of makes sense that the game would come down to kind of a chaotic situation, nothing perfect, just someone willing to punch the ball in."

The Wolverines' reward for Thursday's win is a 3:30 p.m. Monday semifinal date with No. 2 Ellicottville/Franklinville, which beat No. 7 Holland 7-1 in another Thursday quarterfinal.

"We've been tying together things all year with whatever works," Pikiewicz said. "We're going to reboot this weekend, see where we are, and hopefully we can give Ellicottville the game they deserve."

Westfield/Brocton's day didn't start as positive Thursday. In the sixth minute, Chautauqua Lake's Liam Swan took a shot that deflected to Urijah Meredith, who touched the ball to Lucas Horvath. The junior then beat Anderson to the far post for a 1-0 lead.

"I can't say enough about Lucas, not only as a player, but as a captain, a student and an individual. He does such a good job of motivating the guys out there, recentering them through all the undulations of the game," Barnes said. "I also have a huge amount of confidence when he has the ball on his foot because good things can happen."

The Wolverines tied the game in the 33rd minute as junior Braylon Swanson was left with about 5 feet of space and took full advantage, sending a perfect shot into the high corner of the goal from nearly 40 yards away to make it 1-1.

"It was the most miraculous cross I've ever seen, I think," Barnes said. "There are a lot of really good players in the league. I tried to tell the guys all week not to think too much about him. ... You have to respect all the players equally."

"Luck or not, Braylon is a great player and that broke the ice," Pikiewicz said. "We really needed that in this game. We just didn't have the gumption or traction to move things."

After halftime, Chautauqua Lake regained a 2-1 lead when Horvath's cross into the top of the box found Meredith, who scored low under a hard-charging Anderson for a 2-1 lead.

But with 25:47 remaining, the Eagles committed a foul inside the 18-yard box and Freifeld converted the penalty kick to Emery's left as the goalkeeper guessed right, tying the game 2-2.

"We make our list every two to three weeks," Pikiewicz said about the decision for Freifeld to take the penalty. " ... We really have to play to our strengths and that's where Caleb steps in. The consistency is what we look for."

Despite controlling much of the remaining 50 minutes, the Wolverines needed until the 105th minute to be declared winners.

"In games like this, it comes down to who can capitalize on the small opportunities. They had a lot of possession, but I felt like there were parts of the games where we had more opportunities," Barnes said. "In overtime, they were pressing a lot and I really felt like if we had one good opportunity, we'd score."

NOTES: Emery was credited with 10 saves for Chautauqua Lake and Anderson was credited with five for Westfield/Brocton. ... The other side of the Class C bracket features No. 1 Wilson against No. 5 Randolph. The Lakemen beat No. 8 Silver Creek/Forestville 6-0 and the Cardinals topped No. 4 Portville 2-1 in other Thursday quarterfinals.