Boys Soccer: Huskers Blank John Jay 1-0

For Yorktown (7-6), scoring right before the end of the half was a moment of elation while on the other end for John Jay (3-8), it was a deflating feeling to allow a goal going into halftime.

Scoring with 24 seconds left before halftime for Yorktown on a header was Zef Saljanin with the assist coming from Ryan Roche. That was the only goal the Huskers would need in a 1-0 triumph against visiting John Jay Saturday, Oct. 16.

It was the second time in five days that Yorktown nipped John Jay. The Huskers also won a road contest against the Indians in overtime 2-1 on Oct. 12.

Yorktown coach Ed Polchinski explained how his squad was able to garner the only goal of the game.

"Our guys were working hard and it was just a great play," Polchinski said. "They finally settled the ball down. Jeremy (Katz) made a terrific pass to our outside mid Ryan Roche, who is only a sophomore and he made a beautiful cross to Zef, which finished the ball. That's what we are working on, that's what we've been trying to do and they finally put it together."

On his end, John Jay coach Peter Neidell stressed the importance of what can happen when you don't finish a half strongly.

"That's the whole five-minute rule where you need to finish 40 minutes and goals tend to come in five-minute bunches or they come right before the half or right after the half," Neidell said. "It is deflating, we were playing well but we did give the ball away in the back third of the field and it did create a good goal-scoring chance for them."

John Jay did appear to have a couple of great scoring chances towards the end of the game. Sam Burbank and Mike Daniello both looked like they were going to have the opportunity to go one on one with Yorktown goalie Luis Lizarzaburu.

However, each time an off-sides was called on John Jay, preventing Burbank and Daniello from having the chance to tie the game and on each occasion drawing a groan from the Indian fans.

"Of course it's frustrating but once the ref blows the whistle and they make the call, they are not changing their call," Neidell said.

What also hurt John Jay in its attempt to get on the board was the outstanding effort of Lizarzaburu, who made 13 saves.

"Both our goalies are incredible," Polchinski said. "Jacob Sigler and Luis, they've been playing on their heads the whole year. I don't know who's starting, I don't want either of them to lose their edge. Luis stood on his head today. You can't ask for more than that. It was a whole team effort from my goalies this year, both of them."

Yorktown, with a 5-2 mark in league play, will look to continue its push toward a league championship when it hosts Brewster 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18 on its senior night before traveling to Carmel two days later.

"We have to play Somers on Friday (Oct. 22) which is going to be a big match, if we sweep the rest of the week, which I am only going to take a game at a time," Polchinski said. "That's our goal though, to try and win the league or come close to it."

While John Jay won't be competing for a league title down the stretch, considering it has lost six one-goal games this year with a young team, it wouldn't be a surprise to see it compete next year for a league crown.

"At moments we played very well, when we kept possession of the ball," Neidell said. "We had six sophomores out there at some point so that bodes well for the future."

Lakeland continues to roll

Lakeland has 8-1-3 overall record. Their latest victory came under the lights in a 2-0 triumph against Putnam Valley Saturday, Oct. 16.

"Style points don't count," Lakeland coach Tim Hourahan said. "All that matters at the end of the day is how many wins you have, how many losses you have. We are 8-1-3 and like I told these kids you are what your record says you are. We are first in the league, we haven't lost in the league (4-0-2), we haven't lost at home, we are 6-0-1 at home."

The Hornets jumped out to a 1-0 lead against Putnam Valley on a goal by Robert Caffrey with the assist coming from Gonzalo Prando.

 "We have been talking a lot as a team, this is our 12th game and we have only had the lead at halftime one other time before tonight so we wanted to have the lead at halftime and when you score two and a half minutes in, you think you will get two or three in," Hourahan said. "But once we scored that first goal, we kind of laid off the gas a little bit. We probably should've put the game away in the first half but we didn't. But you take the win, it's Saturday night, you go home and you're in first place."

Timmy Driscoll sealed the game for Lakeland with an unassisted goal with 17 minutes left in the second half. Steven Reiche made five saves in goal for Lakeland.

"We are getting better, that's the most important thing," Hourahan said. "About a week ago we changed our formation. Instead of going with two top, we feel like we got a ton of good middies, we are only going with one top. We are getting more chances, we are attacking in waves. We want to play even better in about two weeks from today, which is the first round of sectionals."

Author's note-Yorktown and Lakeland are in different leagues.