Maple Grove’s Nick Tomlinson, left, and Westfield/Brocton’s Danny Bratton challenge each other for a header during Monday’s CCAA Division III boys soccer game in Westfield.
OBSERVER Photo by Jason Bower
WESTFIELD — Year after year there is the question if the Maple Grove boys soccer team will be able to replace the talent it just graduated.
However, it’s beginning to not be a question of if, but rather who, will step up each season.
Visiting Westfield/Brocton on Monday, Maple Grove had the chance to take over the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division III lead with a win.
It was Drew Oste’s turn to step up and keep Maple Grove’s tradition of dominance in the division as he netted a hat trick in the 4-1 victory over the Wolverines.
“We have wonderful kids who take pride in our sports programs within Maple Grove,” Maple Grove head coach Andrew Lindstrom said. “We have amazing coaches who have coached them up through the years to where they get to this part and find great success.”
When the teams first met the Red Dragons blew a lead and allowed Westfield/Brocton to get back into the game for a tie. Then that weekend the Wolverines rolled to a 4-1 nonleague victory, showing they had the legs to take the division this season.
On Monday, Oste found the back of the net first and Westfield/Brocton’s Braylon Swanson answered later in the half with a brilliant header to equalize. However, Maple Grove pressured late and was awarded a penalty kick in the final 30 seconds of the half.
Oste buried his opportunity and the Red Dragons never looked back.
Maple Grove did not sit back once regaining the lead, continuing to take it to the Wolverines and the aggressive attack led by Arley Culver began to wear on Westfield/Brocton. Matters were made worse for the home team when Culver dribbled his way into danger and a Westfield/Brocton defender tackled him to the ground inside the 18-yard box to prevent a scoring chance.
Along with a penalty kick, a straight red card was given and Culver made no mistake as he put the Red Dragons up 3-1.
“We have a small team this year,” Lindstrom said, “but we’ve been really focusing on going hard to the ball. They played so hard tonight and they played their hearts out.”
Westfield/Brocton was struggling to break through the Maple Grove defense with captain Ryan Lockwood at the heart of the backline helping keep danger away from goalkeeper Liam Colburn.
“We have an extremely smart defense,” Lindstrom added about his group. “It’s a brick wall back there. There’s not much getting past them.”
Desperately needing two goals and down a man, Westfield/Brocton’s defense became vulnerable as it went all-out attack seeking a tally. Eventually that came back to bite the Wolverines as Oste hustled on a counterattack for his hat trick goal and the 4-1 lead.
“Last game we went up 3-0 and then 4-1,” Lindstrom said about the previous league matchup. “They came back and tied the game. We weren’t going to let that happen this time.”
Colburn finished the game with five saves, Oste the hat trick, and Culver a goal and an assist, firmly putting the Red Dragons in the driver seat for another league title. Facing the remaining teams in the league, Maple Grove (5-4-1, 4-0-1) is yet to surrender a goal to any team other than Westfield/Brocton in Division III.
“I feel like we found our stride as a team big time,” Lindstrom said. “We were ready, we were ready for a win today and we got it.”
Westfield/Brocton (7-2-2, 3-1-1) will need help if it hopes to gain a share of the league title along with winning out in Division III itself.