John Jay shutout 4-0 in league showdown against Walter Panas

Finn Fothergill makes his move towards the goal. Sagi Ohana avoids a defender at midfield. Yesbin Cruz eyes a loose ball. Jim MacLean Photos

By JIM MACLEAN 

One test after another, and one break and one goal can make the difference in the game of soccer. That has been the scenario unfolding for the John Jay boys varsity soccer team as the Wolves have come up with some big wins and some tough losses in one battle after another throughout the season.

After scoring a pair of victories in league action last week over rival Somers and Hen Hud, John Jay was hoping to carry the momentum forward as the Wolves hosted Walter Panas on Friday, Oct. 10, in another league showdown with title implications on the line. Panas is the defending league champion, and the Panthers showed why as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half and closed out a 4-0 victory on the road over the Wolves.

“A good start, an unfortunate goal, then they scored on a good direct kick,” John Jay coach Elliott O’Sullivan said. “Intense game — they’re a great team, one of the best teams we play, and they played well. They won the league last year and they lead again this year. We were missing one of our captains, two key guys out, but that didn’t matter, they were better than us today and more up for it.”

John Jay took to the field without captain Alex Bond at midfield, but the Wolves came out strong with energy trying to show that they belonged with the best of them heading towards the Section 1 Class A playoffs.

However, Panas pounced on an opportunity midway through the first half to take a 1-0 lead, and the Panthers added on to the lead just before halftime with a goal off a long direct kick to make it 2-0.

Trailing and pushing the attack in the second half trying to respond and get back into the game, John Jay controlled the possession and had a number of corner kicks and opportunities, but Panas countered and scored a third goal and then added another one just a minute later to make the final score 4-0.

Despite the loss, O’Sullivan is confident his team can compete with the best of them in the playoff tournament once they get healthy with Bond and others set to return to action. Senior captain Sagi Ohana has been solid at midfield with Bond leading the way for the Wolves. Finn Fothergill continues to pace the offense as the leading goal scorer, while Jeremy Walerys and goalie Marc Stein lead a strong defense.

“Sagi has been great at midfield, a captain and a leader,” O’Sullivan said of Ohana. “Finn has been great, scoring 10 goals in 14 games. Jeremy Walerys is a rock and he can play anywhere. The twins, Will and Jack Green have been solid on defense. We have the pieces to compete.”

Prior to the Panas game, John Jay had pulled out a 2-1 victory over Somers and the Wolves exploded on offense for an impressive shutout victory on the road at Hen Hud. With the loss and two wins, John Jay now stands at 6-6-1 overall as the Wolves have battled in a lot of close games.

“That’s soccer, each game can turn on a goal,” added O’Sullivan. “A week left with three big games before the playoffs. We’ll get our act together and go again next week.”

Now, the Wolves will face the same three league foes again in the final week of the regular season with the final home game set for Oct. 16, against Hen Hud and then the last game at Panas on Saturday, Oct. 18, before the start of the Section 1 tournament.