By SPENCER BATES
CUBA — Despite having begun its season with a narrow 1-0 loss, the Olean boys soccer team did not flinch, responding with a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over Wellsville the following day.
The Huskies dropped its season-opener against Cuba-Rushford/Hinsdale in their first round game of the Tri-County Cup, setting up a consolation match against the Lions after they fell to Campbell-Savona.
And from the jump, Olean looked like a team determined to flex its muscle, unleashing its full arsenal on Wellsville. Early and often, the Huskies inundated the Lions’ defensive third. Their forwards found themselves in acres of space, utilizing their nifty footwork to put their opponents goal under extreme duress. One such chance was capitalized just two minutes into the game by Terrell James, who easily found the back of the net after a great move into the Wellsville penalty area.
The hot start by his Huskies pleased head coach TJ Magro, who noted that building opportunities and rifling off shots is a major emphasis for him and his coach staff this season.
“(We’re) definitely having more shots, that’s what we’re encouraging this year,” Magro said. “With more shots, the more goals we get, the more opportunities. That’s all we’re trying to focus on right now and it’s definitely been an encouraging thing seeing that the past two games. We’ve had tons of shots, almost double digits in every game. So, I’m happy with where we’re going right now. Now, it’s just onward and upward.”
The chances on net were of no shortage throughout the first half for the Huskies, who put seven shots on frame in that time. However, they had even more opportunities left untaken, and due to that, the game was left still in the balance.
“A lot of my guys were just dribbling it right down to the six yard line and just waiting for the perfect opportunity,” Magro said. “It’s not about that, it’s just about finding an opening and then ripping the shot.”
Unfortunately for Olean, those missed chances came back to haunt the team as Wellsville found an equalizer on the back of a counter attack with just two minutes left in the half.
The goal was a gut punch to the Huskies who then spent the opening minutes of the second half on the defensive as the Lions caught the scent of a possible come-from-behind victory. But the Olean defense held strong, and after the initial wave of attacks from Wellsville, the game evened out as both sides pushed for a winner. One that did not come by the end of regulation.
Tied 1-1 after 80 minutes, a golden-goal overtime period followed. But just two minutes of the scheduled 10 were needed as senior captain Brady Riehle placed a 30-yard free kick beyond the outstretched hands of the Lions’ goalkeeper to win the game for the Huskies.
“It was definitely a relief at the end, we needed it,” Magro said of the win. “We were knocking on the door the whole time. Fortunately, Brady really put that one in the back of the net, a senior goal in his second game out here. He’s just trying to prove himself really.”
Olean’s Terrell James (14) takes a shot on the Wellsville goal. James scored the game’s opening goal for the Huskies in their win over the Lions. (Spencer Bates)
Riehle and James were the two that got on the scoresheet for Olean, but alongside them Connor Hogle, Ethan Woodring and Taylor Teachman were all galvanizing forces for the victors. They were the ones that spurred their side forward, held the line when they needed to and according to Magro, put their commitment to the team on full display.
“They’ve been together for a long time with me, and they’ve really bought into this system, and I’ve just been grateful for that,” Magro said. “They just work hard every single day to push every one of them, every single guy out there is just being worked by those core veteran players.”
Olean moved to 1-1 on the season with the win, but an even record is far from the goals that Magro has laid out for this year’s team. He’ll certainly take the wins as they come, but what he wants them to add up to when all is said and done, is another positive step in the postseason.
“I’m hoping that we can finally break that quarterfinal breach,” Magro said. “We’ve literally got to that quarterfinal and lost every single time. I’m hoping we can just get to that semifinal and push through.”
Next up for Olean is a non-league game against Portville at home on Sept. 11 at 4:30 p.m.
