OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank
Southwestern’s Connor Young looks to move the ball during Thursday’s CCAA Division I game against Allegany-Limestone at Charles A. Lawson Field.
WEST ELLICOTT — Every time Connor Young steps on the soccer pitch, there’s a chance he’ll do something special.
It happened again Thursday night.
In the 60th minute, the Southwestern senior controlled a long, high clearing pass from his defense and dribbled each bounce — seemingly with a different part of his body each time — past three separate Allegany-Limestone defenders before blasting a low shot into the corner of the goal to complete a hat trick as the Trojans beat the Gators 4-1 in Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division I action at the Fran Sirianni Athletic Complex.
“I wish people in the state could see that. I wish more people could see what he does on the field,” Southwestern head coach Jason Deering said. “He is one of the best in the state. I want to see the player that’s better than him. He’s phenomenal.”
It was a special night on the turf at Charles A. Lawson Field for Young, who rose to the occasion as the teams battled for sole possession of first place.
Southwestern improved to 5-0-0 in the division and 8-1-0 overall, its only setback a 2-1 loss to Randolph back on Sept. 9.
Allegany-Limestone, on the other hand, fell to 4-1-0 in the league and 7-2-0 overall. The Gators’ only blemish was a 2-1 loss to Section V Fillmore back on Sept. 14.
The Trojans took a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute Thursday. Young set up Seth Vaughn with a through ball down the left side of the Southwestern offense, but Gators sophomore goalkeeper Donovan Booker made a save at the near-post, which led to a corner kick. Trojans junior Ryan Ohl sent the set piece into the 6-yard box and Vaughn eventually jammed it home for his 10th goal of the season.
Allegany-Limestone answered in the 23rd minute. Senior Luke Griffin made an assertive drive toward the Southwestern goal and was taken down by Trojans senior Gavin Ternullo, resulting in a penalty kick. Allegany-Limestone’s leading scorer, senior Xander Parsons, converted the try for his sixth goal of the season to tie the game.
The Gators made several organized advances toward the Southwestern goal over the final 10 minutes of the half, only to be turned away by Trojans central defenders Ternullo and senior Judd Harris each time.
“Allegany-Limestone is running a couple of new things with their formation and their movements. I thought we handled that exceptionally well. When they started sending long balls, we kind of got a little worried, but in the second half I don’t think they sent any that were worrisome,” Deering said. “Those two are seniors, they are leaders back there … game by game they are getting so much better.”
After halftime, Young took over the game.
In the 46th minute, the 2023 Post-Journal Player of the Year was taken down from behind just outside the top of the 18-yard box. Selected to take the free kick, Young sent a dart into the low corner of the goal to make it 2-1.
“I wish some people could see our practices when he’s taking free kicks,” Deering said. ” … You don’t want to give him a kick. As soon as they call a foul, I’m calling it in.”
Fourteen minutes later, Young added to his career highlight reel with his 50-yard run to make it 3-1.
“He’s feeling it. He’s definitely playing with a lot of fire,” Deering said. “That’s Connor for us.”
When Vaughn was taken down out wide along the 10-yard line six minutes later, Young was again selected to take the free kick. This time, even with a poor angle to the low corner of the net, Young beat the Gators’ wall and goalkeeper to the spot to complete the hat trick with his 18th goal of the season.
“We played really well, I thought, all game. It was just a matter of playing tough defense that we were playing,” Deering said. “Eventually, we’ll do us and we’ll have some offense happen — well, some Connor Young happen.”
Allegany-Limestone sustained pressure over the final 14 minutes and even cracked the Southwestern defense multiple times, but twice goalkeeper Cooper Charles turned away Gators’ shots en route to four saves on the night.
“He’s coming along quite well for not having a goalie to start the season. He’s been outstanding,” Deering said. “He’s really becoming solid back there and he’s only a 10th-grader.”
Allegany-Limestone will have four days off before visiting Olean in league play Monday night, while Southwestern will travel to nonleague Ellicottville on Saturday morning.