The Blue Devils finished the year 17-2-1. (File Photo) .
SPENCERPORT — For the third year in a row, the Williamson Marauders eliminated the Geneseo Blue Devils from playoff contention. With the score tied at 1 with 2:59 left in the game, the Marauders got the go-ahead goal from senior attacker Tom Ferland, and capped a 2-1 victory in the Class C State Qualifier.
The first half of action was anyone’s game, as both teams battled each other for position and momentum. Come the second half, the Marauders took advantage with 16 minutes left in the game, when Ferland, the Marauders leading scorer, picked up the first tally of the game. A few moments later, the Blue Devils would respond, when senior defender Jimmy Root scored the game-tying goal, via a corner kick from senior attacker Mo Carlon.
Following Ferland’s go-ahead goal, the Blue Devils battled for scoring chances, but ultimately came out with the loss to their playoff rival.
Blue Devils head coach Chris Masters discussed what occurred on the two allowed goals.
“The first goal, we let their leading scoring get free,” Masters said. “(Sophomore defender) Sean (Kelly) switched off of him (Ferland) for a second to stay with the ball, because he thought the man was going to get in alone, but they gave it back to (Ferland), so he had a nice open look at the goal and the ball kind of skipped through on (Senior keeper) (Jacob) Cook.”
“The second one was another little bit of a mistake, a turnover here and we didn’t kick it out of bounds and we tried to make a move and had two guys on one and that left a two-on-one for them. They found the open man and he buried it.”
Even with the loss in the State Qualifier, the Blue Devils delivered another strong season, including a league title and another Sectional Championship. These accomplishments, along with others, were not lost on Masters after the defeat.
“They’re the best group of kids that we’ve ever had to come through here as far as talent and skill,” Masters said. “The amount of games that they’ve won has been unbelievable, to three-peat Sectionals is hard to do and it’s something we’re very proud of and hopefully we can keep it going.”
One of the recipients of these accolades was senior midfielder Bryan Rollins, who played his last soccer game in a Blue Devils’ uniform. Rollins reflected on time as a member of the Blue Devils.
“It’s been one of the best times of my life playing for the Geneseo Blue Devils.”
Geneseo finishes the year at 17-2-1.