soccer1After opening up the 2011 season with a resounding 11-0 victory over visiting Union Springs last week, and a Wednesday rainout scheduled at Marathon, the Lansing High School boys' soccer team soundly defeated Southern Cayuga High School 5-0 on Friday night at Sobus Field, to move to 2-0 on the season. Junior striker and tri-captain Ethan Kutler continued his scoring touch by notching 3 goals in the first half, giving him 4 for the young season. Junior midfield Cobi Byrne and sophomore midfielder Benji Geisler rounded out the scoring for the Bobcats, while senior midfielder and Tri-Captain Sean Streb assisted on 2 Bobcat tallies.

The Bobcats came out firing on all cylinders as Kutler scored 2 quick goals in the first 7 minutes of play, and hardly allowing their opponents to cross midfield with aggressive pressure and steady ball control. Later in the first half, Kutler played a one time, heel flick pass to an onrushing Geisler, who calmly drilled a left footed shot in the back of the net. The Chiefs of Southern Cayuga came out determined to keep it a contest in the 2nd half by playing more physical, and picking up the defensive pressure on the Bobcat ball handlers. The strategy worked for a while, as the Bobcats could not find the back of the net despite dominating possession, shots and corners taken. Finally, in the 18th minute of play in the second half, Streb played a beautiful ball to Byrne, who calmly settled and placed a beautiful, arcing shot into the back, right corner of the goal against a helpless keeper.

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Senior keeper and Tri-Captain Benji Parkes and junior keeper Sam Currie combined for the team's second consecutive shutout, although the stout defense led by junior defender Spencer Warkentin only allowed one shot for the night. Defenders Tim Arleo, a junior and sophomore Jake Palladino were also instrumental in shutting down the counter attacking style of the Chiefs. For the game, Lansing outshot Southern Cayuga 23-1, and took 12 corner kicks to zero, and for the year the Bobcats have now outscored their opponents 16-0.

The young Bobcats have a busy week ahead as the look to stay perfect on the season, with road matches versus Groton on Tuesday, Moravia on Thursday, and Marathon on Friday. Friday's game versus Marathon promises to be a good challenge for the lads on the pitch, as they look to make their mark on the IAC in 2010.

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