Senior Alex Ricci scored exactly two minutes into the first overtime to allow Brockport to escape with a 2-1 boys soccer victory over Spencerport in the Class A1 semi-finals held at LeBeau Filed in Hilton.
The teams played scoreless through the first 40 minutes despite each threatening. Blue Devil Simeon Horton’s cross to Jason Hayes was headed just wide in the tenth minute and a shot from 30 yards out by Zachary Langelotti needed a diving saves by Rangers goalkeeper Connor MacKenzie to stay out of the net in the 34th minute.
With the first half clock ticking off the final ten seconds of the half, a Spencerport corner kick by David DeBellis was headed by Nick Turnquist toward the goal, but dribbled along the goal line as the horn sounded.
Ricci broke up the 0-0 duel just 1:04 into the second half as he picked up a loose ball at midfield, outraced the defender and put a bullet-shot from 30 yards out off the crossbar and into the net for a 1-0 Blue Devils lead.
In the 59th minute, Brockport tried to pad their lead as Ricci fed a pass to Horton down the right wing, but MacKenzie came out of the net to challenge and made the save.
Spencerport moved to a three-forward strategy late in an attempt to tie the game and had several chances. A pass from DeBellis into the box was just out of the reach of Mike Caceci in the 64th minute before a shot by Evan Connoly that was ticketed for the upper corner was tipped wide by Brockport goalkeeper Joe McNulty.
But with just 1:47 remaining in regulation, the Rangers finally converted. Joe Curtis passed to the scoring area where Caceci banged into the back of the net to tie the game and send it to overtime.
“We stopped playing and tried to sit on our lead for 22 minutes,” Brockport head coach Chris Zorn said. “We mentally struggled in the second half and give Spencerport credit; they kept bringing the pressure, worked hard and kept at it.”
Just two minutes into the sudden-victory overtime, Jonny Autenrieth headed the ball to Ricci, who headed it off the post and into the net for the game-winner.
“We had to get back to laying our game in overtime,” Ricci said on the jubilant sideline. “We didn’t want to play two overtime (sessions), so we had to get the job done.
“We’ve lost in the semi’s the last two years, so this is a good feeling. We put a good package together this year. Spencerport is a tough opponent and we were worried about their pressure, deadly throw-ins and long passes, but our D (defense) did a great job defending.”
