- By Paul Geisler
- Sports
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No one is happier that junior defender Spencer Warkentin has returned from his recent knee injury healthy and able than sophomore midfielder Benji Geisler and junior striker Ethan Kutler. Warkentin's return and effective play as the center back has allowed Geisler to move back into his central midfielder role and Kutler into his attacking striker position, allowing them reassert their roles in the Bobcats' offensive attack. And respond they have, as Geisler led the Bobcats to their most recent impressive win by notching 4 goals in a 7-0 victory of the Southern Cayuga Chiefs in Poplar Ridge on Wednesday afternoon. For the year, the dynamic duo have combined to score 43 Bobcat goals, a total likely not matched by another pair in the area, perhaps even the state. Early on, it was apparent that the Chiefs were well aware that Kutler is the IAC's leading scorer, and so their game strategy was to shut down Kutler by marking him man to man, and being very physical and aggressive anytime he touched the ball. Although being shut out on the goal sheet for the day, Kutler took his lumps from the Chiefs' defenders and in doing so, created openings for his teammates to find the back of the net.
Sophomore midfielder, Benji Geisler follows through on his 3rd goal of the game versus Southern Cayuga in Poplar Ridge. (Shown at top) Senior striker, Andrew Barber looks to switch the point of attack for the Bobcats during their 7-0 victory over the Southern Cayuga Chiefs on Wednesday.
With Lansing struggling to find their rhythm and energy early on, the Chief's strategy seemed to be working until Geisler opened the scoring with a high, curling shot from 25 yards out at the 21-minute mark. Kutler exacted a bit of revenge just over a minute later by arcing a perfect free kick from just outside the 18-yard box to a waiting Geisler, who headed it past a diving keeper. Up 2-0 and inspired by the Chiefs' aggressive play, the Bobcats began to find their rhythm and put the Chiefs on their heels in their defensive end, and when senior tri-captain Sean Streb found the twine at the 10-minute mark, the field started to tilt in the Bobcats' favor. An own goal by Southern Cayuga off a beautiful cross from junior Ellington Hopkins just before the half left the Bobcats with a commanding 4-0 half time advantage.
After beating his mark to the corner, senior winger, Taylor Schuster prepares to play a cross into the Chiefs’ 18-yard box and create a scoring opportunity for the Bobcats as they moved to 12-0 on the year.
The second half saw the Bobcats display their ball control, attacking offense and stout defense in full force, as they dominated possession and prevented the Chiefs from mounting any serious threats on senior keeper, Benji Parkes. Seniors Taylor Schuster, Troy Hradisky and Andrew Barber continued to display a high work rate in forcing Chiefs turnovers and attacking the flanks for the Bobcats' offense, and junior strikers Hopkins and Kutler continued to put pressure on the Chiefs 18 yard box, trying to create scoring chances.
Several outstanding, point blank saves by the Chiefs' keeper kept their deficit at 4 goals for the first 10 minutes of the 2nd stanza, but a beautiful square ball from Hopkins to a slashing Geisler, who turned in the box and calmly slotted his third goal through a diving keeper, increased the Bobcats' advantage to 5-0. Junior midfield Cobi Byrne registered an assist off a gorgeous, perfectly weighted free kick to a slashing Geisler, who one timed the ball into the back of the net to make it 6-0, at the 21 minute mark. With just over 6 minutes remaining, Junior striker Nate McIntosh made a left side run towards the end line and slotted a perfect ball into the box, finding a cutting Barber who drilled the ball into the side netting to produce the 7-0 final.
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