Cassadaga Valley/Falconer’s Clayton Evans loads up a shot toward the Newfane goal which stood as the only tally of the game in the Golden Cougars’ 1-0 Section VI Class B2 quarterfinal win over the Panthers on Thursday at Bill Race Field in Falconer.
OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms
FALCONER — A year after reaching the sectional semifinals, the Cassadaga Valley/Falconer boys soccer team had a chance to get back to that spot Thursday afternoon despite graduating several key players.
With goals not easy to come by for the Golden Cougars this year, they needed to make their opportunities count and when the field was tilted in their favor towards the Newfane half of the pitch, junior Clayton Evans picked the best time to score his first goal of the year. Channing Brainard dribbled down the right wing and sent a cross into the box which Evans wasted no time striking into the back left of the net for the 1-0 lead that stood, lifting No. 3 Cassadaga Valley/Falconer past No. 6 Newfane in a Section VI Class B2 quarterfinal at Bill Race Field in Falconer.
“Losing a lot of those really good seniors last year, there’s a lot of questions going into this year,” Cassadaga Valley/Falconer head coach Nick Quattrone stated.
“But these players matured, they embraced that role, they wanted to repeat what we did last year and they put in the work to get here.”
Evans’ goal in the 36th minute was the culmination of a plethora of dangerous scoring opportunities rained down upon Newfane in the latter part of the first half. Newfane’s Brad Bork made six saves in net, but could not get in front of the quick strike from Evans.
Cassadaga Valley/Falconer’s Kale Livengood attempts to get away from Newfane’s Isaac Zachary.
OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms
“We struggled to build offense there at the beginning,” Quattrone said about his team. “But we’re not a team that’s going to hang our head either. We just stuck with it, we knew the plan was going to work eventually. We have good players that can pass the ball really well, it’s just a matter of getting that rhythm, that flow and we eventually did. It’s just a matter of sticking with it.”
One goal is never a safe lead, but with Nathan Bailey in net, Cassadaga Valley/Falconer could be more comfortable than most teams. The reigning Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association East Division Defensive Player of the Year made 12 saves in the shutout victory, including some sprawling along the goal line.
“He just exudes confidence,” Quattrone said about Bailey. “He gives confidence to every player on the team knowing he’s behind them. He backstops this team, he’s a leader and he makes the clutch save when we need it. We’re really lucky to have him.”
Cassadaga Valley/Falconer relied on Bailey early on to make big saves before it could get going and the senior netminder was returned the favor with a defensive clinic by the players in front of him in the second half.
Newfane came out hard in the second half desperate for a goal to keep its season alive, however the Golden Cougars were ready for it. Very little space was given to the Panthers offensive front as the Golden Cougars put a whole team effort to preserve the lead and the clean sheet.
Cassadaga Valley/Falconer goalkeeper Nathan Bailey makes a save during Thursday’s Section VI Class B2 quarterfinal against Newfane at Bill Race Field in Falconer.
OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms
“The message before the game was that there are things out of control in this game, but the one thing you can control is how hard you work,” Quattrone said. “There was a big emphasis on defense, so working hard to get back defensively, forcing them to their weak leg and supporting the defense from behind with the offense and vice versa. We were swarming balls, it was just a really good effort by everyone.”
Once Cassadaga Valley/Falconer weathered the storm in the second half it was just a matter of time for the game to end as the strike from Evans would stand as the game winner.
Cassadaga Valley/Falconer’s victory sets up a semifinal matchup at No. 2 Medina (14-2-1) on Monday at 6:30 p.m. The Mustangs cruised past No. 7 Silver Creek/Forestville 12-0 in their quarterfinal and have conceded just eight goals this season.
“Just have fun,” Quattrone said about his team’s mentality as the playoffs go deeper. “Just have fun, keep working hard and enjoy every minute because we all know high school sports aren’t forever. Just enjoy every second.”
Golden Cougars’ Channing Brainard is defended by the Panthers’ Josh Klumpp.
OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms