Somers Heads to Section Finals with 7-6 Thriller Over Pelham

Scroll to end for photos

In the semifinal round of the sectionals at Somers on Saturday May 30, Pelham’s 1-0 lead at 8:14 amounted to their last lead of the game. The Pelicans definitely didn’t go away, though. A Somers turnover gave Pelham the ball with 55 seconds remaining in the game, but the Tuskers always feel comfortable having Hudson Ruby as the last line of defense. “He’s just the guy who makes all these plays,” said Holden Brelesky, and with Pelham’s big time scorer making a lateral rush on the goal line, the Somers stop gap engaged his silencer

“As a goalie, you got to be able to quiet the noise,” said Ruby, and not giving an inch, the Tusker stuffed the play to give his team a 7-6 victory.

The game began just as tight. Back and forth, the defenses held and forced turnovers, while Reeve Murrell made his first showing. A short hop save on Tristan Iglesias, it was a long day ahead for the Somers offense. “He’s very good on his feet, very good low and hard to put it in on him,” assured Brelesky.

The goalie’s pass up field at 9:05 did give Somers the ball. But they returned the favor moments later, and the visitors took advantage. The birds set up, and Jared Slawsky took the lane that was given to him. He wound up and his sidearm got past Ruby for a 1-0 lead.

The draw then to Kamol Frederick, the Pelicans kept up the pressure. Sam Roberts and Ford Fairback both went underhand and were met with a Ruby deflection and air just above the crossbar at 6:45.

Next, a pass into the crease by Roberts got hit with too much traffic, and Ayden Purpura cleaned up the mess. Back the other way, Somers set up, and Cam Violante curled up with the ball. He went around a George Sullivan pick and pulled the trigger to tie.

In at 5:17, the Somers defense stepped up. Following a lost draw, the Tuskers forced a turnover in the end zone, and then a shot clock violation on Pelham’s next possession.

Unfortunately, the home team gave it right back by going offsides. But Ruby always means mistakes can be minimized and maximization is often on the way. On Will Alexander’s shot on the right, he made easy work with his catcher, and Iglesias took the cue. On the left, he bullied his lone defender, and when the rest came over to converge, might made right with his overhand.

A 2-1 lead to close the quarter, the grittiness continued. Pelham scrambled hard to win the opening draw and geared up. Not good enough, Somers refused to relent in the middle and Pelham throwing the ball away was no surprise to Liam Barrett. “We rode the ball back at a high rate today,” he said, and moments after another great save by Murrell, the transition defense did it again.

Tempting too much fate, Somers pressure forced a whistle, and the boys didn’t waste time waiting for the stoppage. Jimenez wrapped around and converted a jump hook at 9:33.

3-1, Somers kept at it but so did Murrell. After wining the draw scramble, Violante’s rush on the goal line put the Pelican on the docket. He reached up, and the deflection left Pelham closest to the ball at 8:55.

No surprise, the Somers ride was too rough again and the quick change of possession left Violante all alone with the goalie. Another deflection at 8:40, Murrell wasn’t done. Jimenez juked his way right out front, but the Pelican was right in step with the cover.

Getting up field this time, the Pelicans were reminded that the other goalie was just as good. On a wraparound play, the room Roberts seemed to have on the right quickly closed with another great save.

Pelham had the last laugh, though. After Piccolo lost the ball in front of the net, Travis Cross carried his long stick the length of the field, and one hopped the ball past Ruby at 6:42.

3-2, the Somers defense didn’t rest and another turnover put Murrell on deck. This time a charging Violante hit Henry Sposito on the goal line, but Murrell matched the middie’s stick jukes for another amazing save.

Of course, Ruby refused to give his counterpart the upper hand. A step around the defense on the right, Alexander’s back hand was just a lunchtime snack for the goalie’s catcher at 2:45.

Something having to give in the cages, Ruby came out on the wrong end to close the half. Will Alexander backed down Kennedy on the left, and turning to fire, he sent the teams into intermission with a tie score.

Back in action, the defenses continued to flip flop possessions until Somers made the most of one at the eight minute mark. The ball eventually coming to Violante, he didn’t let the sea of blue bother him and shot overhand for a 4-3 lead.

At 7:20, the ensuing draw scramble went back and forth until the ball went out of bounds to the Tuskers. Showtime, Jimenez and Xander DiPasquale did a number. First Jimenez two stepped his defender into space and unloaded to his teammate at the goal line. All alone, DiPasquale danced on air above Murrell and shot down for a 5-3 lead with 6:27 left in the third.

Breathing room for Somers, Ruby kept it that way when Alexander had a clear line of sight. No blink, the Somers senior nonchalantly snared the projectile.

Unable to capitalize, Somers twice received the charity of two offsides calls, and the second time Pelham was made to play. On the rush, DiPasquale hit a trailing Violante, and he doubled up the Pelicans at 2:51.

The lead looking large, Frederick’s small, speedy frame missed the memo. He scooped his own draw, raced to the goal ,and four seconds later, the margin was two again.

A penalty on Somers at 1:23 narrowed matters even more. Two men up, Tommy Gallivan drew the defense on the goal line and hit Alexander in front for the easy goal.

Onto the fourth, the tensions were high and Pelham succumbed. On a loose ball, George Sullivan was mauled by a pair of Pelicans for the first flag, and still coming away with the rock, he was blind sided for a second penalty at 10:54.

Even so, the two man advantage proved not to be a sure thing. With Sposito receiving all alone on the right, Murrell denied the overhead, and moments later, the goalie reached high to stop DiPasquale on the doorstep.

The penalty over, Pelham got the whistle next and it was Ruby’s turn to feel the disadvantage. Up to the task, he deflected Roberts’ one hopper and wasn’t complaining when Cole DeDomenico hit the post.

On the other hand, Somers went down a man again, and Ruby was there to deliver. Slawsky’s sidearm almost handcuffed the Tusker, but he corralled the ball nonetheless.

8:43 to go, the offense rewarded their goalie. Ending the man advantage, DiPasquale called for the ball behind the net and hit a cutting Sullivan in front. No chance for Murrell at 7:32, Somers was breathing easier at 7-5.

Saves and turnovers continuing the script, it was Pelham that gave Somers a gut punch at 2:34. Roberts eluded his man at the 25, and his low ball went through the legs of Ruby.

The draw to Pelham, the Pelicans immediately called for time and came out with a set play. Around the horn and back to the right side of the end zone, Roberts came crashing down the middle for a one v one with Ruby. The goalie stood tall, deflected the ball up, and Picco took the rebound out of the air.

2:15 to go, Somers worked the shot clock. That ultimately left Pelham 54 seconds. Timeout first, Pelham worked the four corners until Roberts took possession on the right. He raced to the goal line, cut in and Ruby knew the deal. “I had to stand tall and do it for the team,” he said.

His catcher lending a hand, the ball kicked up, and Barrett got the scoop. Heading back to the end zone with 19 seconds to go, the defender lofted long, and Somers was onto the section finals versus Rye.

Click image for photos

Crowd Shots