Tuskers head to section finals after thriller with Pelham

SOMERS, N.Y. - In the semifinal round of the sectionals at Somers on Saturday, May 30, Pelham's 1-0 lead at 8:14 of the first quarter amounted to its last lead of the game. The Pelicans certainly didn't go away, though.

A Somers turnover gave Pelham the ball with 55 seconds remaining, 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.

With Pelham's top scorer making a hard charge toward the goal line, Somers' standout goalie once again came through.

"As a goalie, you've got to be able to quiet the noise," said Ruby.

Giving up nothing, the Tusker netminder stuffed the attempt to preserve a 7-6 victory.

The game began just as tightly contested. Possession changed hands repeatedly as both defenses forced turnovers while Pelham goalie Reeve Murrell made his presence felt early. His short-hop save on Tristan Iglesias foreshadowed a long day for the Somers offense.

"He's very good on his feet, very good low and hard to put it past him," said Brelesky.

Murrell's outlet pass at 9:05 gave Somers possession, but the Tuskers returned the favor moments later and Pelham capitalized. The Pelicans settled into their offense, and Jared Slawsky took the lane he was given. His sidearm shot beat Ruby for a 1-0 lead.

The ensuing draw went to Kamol Frederick, and Pelham continued to pressure. Sam Roberts and Ford Fairbank both fired underhand shots, but Ruby turned one aside while the other sailed just over the crossbar at 6:45.

A short time later, Roberts threaded a pass into traffic in front of the crease, but Ayden Purpura cleaned up the loose ball. Going the other way, Somers settled into its offense. Cam Violante curled around a George Sullivan pick and fired home the tying goal.

At 5:17, the Somers defense stepped up. Following a lost draw, the Tuskers forced a turnover in the defensive end and then forced a shot-clock violation on Pelham's next possession.

Unfortunately for the home team, an offsides penalty immediately handed the ball back. Ruby again made sure the mistake carried little consequence. He calmly snared Will Alexander's shot on the right side, and Iglesias took the cue. Battling past his defender on the left, he drew help and then buried an overhand shot for a 2-1 lead.

Leading 2-1 after one quarter, Somers continued to grind. Pelham fought hard to win the opening draw of the second quarter, but the Tuskers refused to give ground.

"We rode the ball back at a high rate today," said Liam Barrett.

Moments after another strong save by Murrell, the Somers ride created another turnover.

Eventually, the pressure paid off. Following a whistle, Somers moved quickly before Pelham could settle. Jimenez wrapped around the cage and converted a jump shot at 9:33.

Ahead 3-1, Somers kept attacking, but Murrell remained outstanding. After winning another draw scramble, Violante drove toward goal, only to be denied by the Pelham goalie at 8:55.

Again, the Somers ride forced trouble, leaving Violante alone with Murrell at 8:40. Again, Murrell answered. Moments later, Jimenez danced his way into the middle, but the Pelham goalie stayed with him every step of the way.

At the other end, Ruby reminded everyone that Somers had an elite goalie as well. On a wraparound attempt, the opening Roberts thought he had quickly disappeared behind another impressive save.

Pelham eventually broke through. After Piccolo lost possession in front of the net, Travis Cross carried the ball the length of the field and bounced a shot past Ruby at 6:42.

Now leading 3-2, Somers continued to create chances. Another turnover put Murrell under pressure when Violante found Henry Sposito on the doorstep, but the Pelham goalie matched every fake for another remarkable stop.

Ruby answered in kind. Alexander beat his defender on the right side, but his backhand attempt was swallowed up by the Somers goalie at 2:45.

Something eventually had to give. Unfortunately for Ruby, it came just before halftime. Alexander backed down Kennedy on the left side and turned to fire, sending the teams into the break tied 3-3.

Back in action, the defenses continued trading possessions until Somers capitalized midway through the third quarter. The ball eventually found Violante, who ignored the sea of blue jerseys and ripped an overhand shot home for a 4-3 lead.

At 7:20, another draw scramble bounced back and forth before the ball went out of bounds to Somers. The Tuskers made the opportunity count.

Jimenez created space and fired a pass to Xander DiPasquale on the goal line. All alone, DiPasquale elevated above Murrell and buried the shot for a 5-3 lead with 6:27 left in the third.

With breathing room established, Ruby made sure it stayed that way. When Alexander found himself with a clean look, the Somers senior calmly snared the shot.

Unable to capitalize immediately afterward, Somers was gifted two Pelham offsides penalties. The second finally proved costly. DiPasquale found a trailing Violante in transition, and the midfielder doubled up the Pelicans at 6-3 with 2:51 remaining.

The lead appeared comfortable, but Frederick had other ideas. He scooped up his own draw, raced directly to goal and scored just four seconds later to trim the deficit to two.

A Somers penalty at 1:23 made things even tighter. Playing two men up, Tommy Gallivan drew the defense and fed Alexander in front for an easy finish.

Entering the fourth quarter, tensions rose. Pelham committed a pair of penalties on the same loose-ball sequence when George Sullivan was first swarmed by two defenders and then blindsided while still maintaining possession at 10:54.

Even with the two-man advantage, Somers could not convert. Murrell denied Sposito from point-blank range and later reached high to rob DiPasquale on the doorstep.

After the penalties expired, Pelham earned a man-up opportunity of its own, and Ruby answered. He deflected Roberts' one-hopper and then watched as Cole DeDomenico rang a shot off the post.

Moments later, Somers went down a man again, but Ruby was there to deliver. Slawsky's sidearm nearly handcuffed him, but he secured the ball anyway.

With 8:43 remaining, the offense rewarded its goalie. As the penalty expired, DiPasquale called for the ball behind the net and found a cutting Sullivan in front. Murrell had no chance on the finish, and Somers extended the lead to 7-5 at 7:32.

As the game continued to follow the script of saves and turnovers, Pelham delivered a late punch at 2:34. Roberts beat his defender from 25 yards out and slipped a low shot through Ruby's legs.

Pelham won the ensuing draw, called timeout and emerged with a designed play. Working the ball around the perimeter, the Pelicans eventually got it back to Roberts on the right side. He charged toward the crease for a one-on-one opportunity with Ruby.

The goalie stood tall, deflecting the shot upward before Piccolo secured the rebound.

With 2:15 remaining, Somers worked the shot clock, leaving Pelham with just 54 seconds.

After another timeout, the Pelicans patiently worked the perimeter until Roberts took possession on the right side. He raced toward the goal line and cut inside, but Ruby was ready.

"I had to stand tall and do it for the team," he said.

His save kicked the ball into the air, and Barrett came up with the ground ball. With 19 seconds remaining, the defender lofted the clearing pass upfield, and Somers was on its way to the Section 1 final against Rye at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, at Yorktown High Schol.