SECTION 4 BOYS' SOCCER: HORSEHEADS BATTLES BACK, BUT FALLS 2-1 TO VESTAL IN SECTIONAL FINAL (24 PHOTOS) (2024-11-02)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
WAVERLY — Down 2-0 the Horseheads Blue Raiders got a goal back and had a couple chances to tie the game, but in the end they came up just short against Vestal 2-1 in the Section 4, Class AA boys’ soccer final.

“We battled back, we got a goal back and unfortunately we ran out of time,” Horseheads coach Mark Mucci said. “One marking error led to a goal.”

Down 2-0 the Blue Raiders switched some things up and the offense really started clicking.

“We switched how we played,” Mucci said. “We play different when we are down. Vestal got that second goal, but Ben got us to 2-1. I thought we had a couple good opportunities. It was a super successful season.”

The first half saw a lot of the action played in between the 20’s with each team having a couple of scoring chances. Vestal had a shot that hit off the cross bar midway through the half. With 1:30 left in the half Elijah Friend fired a shot just high.

In the second half Vestal had four corner kicks and six shots. They had a shot hit off the football cross bar five minutes into the half and nine minutes later Horseheads also had a shot hit the football cross bar.

Vestal got on the board at 23:14 as David Samarsky hit a diving header over the goalies arms to make it 1-0 Vestal.

The Golden Bears made it 2-0 with 8:46 left when Ben Elie scored on a pretty goal, leaping in the air and redirecting a cross into the net.

Horseheads fought right back as Ben Church leapt and hit a ball into the corner of the goal to make it 2-1.

The Blue Raiders kept the pressure on, getting a few balls into the air in the box. Vestal also had a few chances on counters, with Friend sliding to break up a breakaway by the Golden Bears with 3:15 left. Vestal then had a ball hit off the football cross bar and with two minutes left Gavin McInerney made a save on a one-on-one chance by Vestal.

For Mucci it’s tough to say goodbye to this senior class.

“It’s tough to say goodbye to these seniors, there is a lot of talent here,” Mucci said. “Ben (Church) and Elijah (Friend) I have had for four years, Coleton (Owen) and (Gavin) McInerney for three years. A lot of guys we have had a long time.”
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES

PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME:


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