CHITTENANGO, N.Y. – Playing in the championship game of its own tournament, Chittenango was in danger of letting the title slip away.
A big header from sophomore Artie Paul, however, guaranteed the Bears would not be dethroned at home.
After cruising to a victory over Phoenix on day one of the tourney, the Bears took a 1-0 halftime lead over Oneida into the intermission of Thursday’s title game courtesy of a Sean Larsson volley.
Then, midway through the second half, Oneida cracked the Chittenango defense for the equalizer. Jordan Farwell took a through ball from Wallis down the right wing, blazing past Bear defenders before centering a ball past goalkeeper Jake Simmons. Farwell’s cross appeared to be slicing toward the goal, but Wallis added a touch just to be sure and tied the game 1-1.
Less than a minute later, senior Oneida defender Tom Smolen came up with a gem of a defensive play to keep his side tied 1-1. Chittenango sophomore Artie Paul slipped behind the defense roughly 30 yards out from goal for what was seemingly a 1-on-1 with Oneida keeper Alex Tooker. Smolen, however, raced to catch up with Paul, slide tackling the ball away from the Bears speedster at the last moment to halt the breakaway.
Still, Chittenango kept the pressure on with less than 20 minutes to go. The Bears drew a pair of corner kicks near the 63rd minute but were unable to capitalize on the opportunities. Moments later, Tooker denied a Chittenango attempt from outside the 18-yard box. With four minutes left in regulation, Tooker came up with another save, this time corralling a Larsson shot that stayed in the middle of the goal.
Oneida had the last chance to solve things in regulation, receiving a corner kick with less than a minute left on the clock; however, the Chittenango defense was able to clear and the send the match to sudden death overtime.
Two minutes later, Chittenango was racing onto the field to mob Paul after a game-winning header.
“First, I was very impressed with Oneida,” Thomas said. “They were more aggressive, physical. They moved the ball very well. Credit to them for getting that equalizer first and not just laying down after we scored early.
“But then for our guys – we have 10 seniors in this group – to dig back and keep pushing.”
With Oneida’s goal and Tooker battling the sun, Chittenango capitalized on its fourth corner kick of the evening. Charlie Reed swung an offering to the mouth of the goal, and Paul rose up amid a crowd of bodies to redirect the ball past Tooker for the game-winner.
“Great that we had the opportunity,” Chittenango coach Brian Thomas said. “[Callum Reed] put a fantastic ball into Artie. For a sophomore [Paul] he’s been great. He had a goal and three assists yesterday in our win. Then, today to get the game winner as a sophomore was great. He deserved the MVP today.”
After the game, Larsson, Brian Schermerhorn, and Anthony Roberts were named as Chittenango representatives to the All-Tournament team. Paul was named Tournament MVP.
“Just confidence going forward here,” Thomas said of what winning the season opening tournament can do for Chittenango as the season progresses.
For Oneida, Farwell, Zach Friend (who tallied twice in Oneida’s 3-1 victory over Tully), and defender Patrick Zehr were named All-Tournament selections.
