Tomcats outscratch Panthers in a 2-0 battle

By Steve Nemeth

With both teams scratching and clawing for every opportunity, East Aurora used a pair of second-half goals to pull off a 2-0 non-conference victory Saturday over Oswego.

Ever since losing senior tri-captain Elliott Totsch for the year (torn ACL in right knee), Oswego has been making adjustments and line-up changes with more regularity than networks promoting new shows.  Slowly but surely the Panthers have been making progress and were hoping to extend a three-match win streak and claim a fifth victory within the last six matches.

Unfortunately OHS (4-6-1) ran into an East Aurora squad also working just as hard for some respect and it was the host Tomcats who boosted their season ledger to 11-1-2.

East Aurora coach Jason Rollins told his team at halftime that a strong start was crucial and the scoreless draw ended 7:30 into the second when Abraham Kanneh’s cross was knocked home from six yards out by Juan Bustamante.

“I got into space for the cross and when it came, I just focused on aiming it into the net,” Bustamante said of his fourth goal this year.  “It feels real good to get the win because we know so many of their guys and friends like to give each other grief.”

East Aurora added to the lead with 27:59 still to be played when Eddie Gaytan set up Kanneh for a 13-yard strike from the left side.

“Where Eddie had the ball, I knew I had to make a run and he’d deliver, so I got it and just put it in the net,” noted Kanneh, who tallied his sixth goal and seventh assist for the year.  “Winning is most important, but getting a goal and an assist is icing on the cake.  It feels real good to be 11-1-2.”

But that win didn’t come quite as easily as the score may lead one to believe.  As was the case throughout the match, Oswego seemed to be just a second late or so many inches from the kind of touch, flick or touch that would’ve put the Panthers on the scoreboard.

One indication of that was Oswego’s accuracy as 9-of-13 shots were on goal in comparison to East Aurora which had 10-of-22 on frame.  With 6:50 left in regulation, Oswego goalie Luis Gallardo made a great save that was followed by a Panther offensive onslaught that last through the final whistle.

With 3:03 remaining, OHS senior Adam Udy’s throw-in landed in front of the Tomcat net and a brief punch out saved one near goal before a follow-up Oswego attempt sailed just high.

 “We’re that much closer to finding the right combinations and the players are starting to get comfortable in their new roles and reach each other,” OHS coach Travis Carlisle explained. “Since losing Elliott we’ve been making adjustments and slowly learning what works best.  Starting the second half, we tried something different on defense and it backfired on us.  We switched back and our defense, which has been so consistent, was solid to the end.

“Fernando (Chavez) had a fantastic second half for us.  Nate (Kyes) and Luis (Abrego) in the midfield have looked good and our backline has remained solid,” Carlisle added.  “We’ve got a lot of positives to build on and our focused on our conference play.”

That’s with good reason since the Panthers put a perfect 3-0-0 Suburban Prairie Conference mark on the line this Tuesday when they host rival Oswego East.

“We know we need to work on finishing more, especially since we’re keeping possession so well,” Curtis Grysiewicz said.  “We just need for everyone to work hard and be a little sharper in every contest.”

Both of Oswego’s last two 1-0 thrillers in league play (vs. Minooka and Plainfield East) featured goals by senior defender Kyle Kearby.

“Although the finish hasn’t always been there like today, we know we’ve gotten more creative on offense.  We just have to work that much harder on finishes to put it all together,” Kearby insisted.  “Our defense has kept us in every game, we just need to put a couple in the net and we’ll be fine.  We’re strictly looking forward and believe we have victories ahead of us.”