By JIM MACLEAN
On paper, it looked like a tall task for the John Jay boys varsity soccer team as the Wolves traveled to take on Somers under the lights Oct. 17. It was senior night for the Tuskers, riding high on a four-game win streak against a John Jay team they had already beaten earlier this year.
However, John Jay was coming in on a high note as the Wolves had won their previous game, and that momentum carried over to Somers. An early goal helped set the tone, and John Jay stood tall on defense and held on for a 2-1 victory.
“That was huge, never beaten Somers in soccer before, last year they blew us out on their senior night, so this was a huge win for us,” said John Jay senior captain Will Harris. “It was intense, especially the second half. They’ve got a lot of good players up top, so I’m just glad I was there to do my job.”
John Jay coach Elliott O’Sullivan agreed that it took a strong team effort from everyone on the field doing their job for the Wolves to come out on top. It was a good finish to a good week for John Jay as they had two wins and a tie.
“Big win, they’re always a strong team, always a contender, we’ve had a tough ride, but we seem to be coming together at the right time,” said coach O’Sullivan, “Everyone on one page, playing for each other, never easy to win at Somers and I’m very proud of their effort and intensity and the focus tonight from the first minute to the last.”
Against Somers, John Jay came out strong and had some good scoring chances in the first five minutes of the game.
All that pressure paid off as John Jay took the lead on a goal by Alex Bond with 10:49 left in the half off an assist from Ryan Ramirez on a play that was started around midfield by Devon Kislin.
Somers responded with more intensity to generate some offense, and the Tuskers had a direct kick and a corner kick in the final minute of the half, but John Jay goalie Marc Fein came up with the saves to keep it 1-0 at halftime.
“Beautiful goal, a beautiful run, Devon to Ramirez to Bond for a great finish,” O’Sullivan said of the first goal. “Fein was unbelievable in goal tonight, all those set pieces, we saved one off the line. Standing up when it mattered, winning the battles and competing at a great level, a good win.”
There was no let down for John Jay in the second half as the Wolves came out strong once again, and Finn Fothergill was able to lift a long shot over the goalie into the net to make it 2-0 just five minutes into the half.
That would prove to be the game-winning goal as John Jay held on for the 2-1 victory.
“I’m not left footed, not the cleanest goal, but I got it off and into the net and it feels great, to be able to beat a rival like Somers, on their senior night, we were happy to seal the deal and get the win,” said Fothergill.
With a 2-0 lead John Jay was in control, but there was a lot of time left on the clock and Somers turned up the urgency to try and make a comeback. The Tuskers applied the pressure and almost scored as the ball got past Fein in the box, but Harris was there on the goal line to clear it away before it got into the net.
Somers was finally able to break through with 12 minutes left to play as the Tuskers scored on a penalty kick to make it 2-1. The Tuskers kept up the pressure and had more scoring opportunities, with Fein making a big save off a corner kick for the Wolves.
Fein and the John Jay defense in front of him stood tall the rest of the way to close out the victory.
John Jay finished the regular season at 4-11-1 overall as the Wolves move on to the Section 1 Class A tournament. The Wolves earned the 15th-seed and were set to face No. 2-seed Ardsley on the road Friday, Oct. 25, in the first round.
Jim MacLean photos
Left, John Jay goalie Marc Fein leaps to knock the ball away from the goal. Right, Charlie Buri clears on defense for the Wolves.