However, Maple Grove senior goalkeeper Nathan Cresanti had no plans of letting Swanson slot another goal past him as he guessed correctly diving to his right to keep the game even.

The Cresanti save proved to be a turning point as Maple Grove proceeded to score the next three goals en route to a 5-3 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Central Division home victory on Tuesday.

“It’s definitely a turn in momentum,” Maple Grove head coach Eric Daigler said about the save. “It can be as strong as scoring a goal. Nathan Cresanti is one of our captains this year. He’s definitely going to be strong in net, but it was a nice victory for him to bounce back from a mistake and turn it into something positive.”

Maple Grove’s first lead did not come until the 68th minute when Jonah Foley connected a pass to Fletcher DeMink who wired a screamer to the top right of the net, but when it trailed it was never for long.

Westfield/Brocton’s Mahir Patel, left, and Maple Grove’s Gavin Rodgers battle for possession. P-J photo by Christian Storms

Westfield/Brocton opened the scoring when Swanson outran a slipping Maple Grove defender in the rain and finished off a breakaway for his 13th tally of the season. Then, just two minutes later, Ty Kraft cleaned up a tricky shot from DeMink that was initially saved, but slipped away from the outstretched keeper.

Once again, Swanson worked along the end line before chipping a pass to Mahir Patel open on the back post for a second Westfield/Brocton tally, but Maple Grove again had a quick answer. Not even a minute later, the Red Dragons struck again with Kraft springing Drew Oste on a breakaway, which he buried to bring the game level at halftime 2-2.

Maple Grove maintained much of the possession, but Westfield/Brocton looked to have more threatening runs on the counter-attack in the elements. Swanson was a marked man all game, but with his elite talent he still managed to generate for the Wolverines and it looked like he would seize the lead again when drawing a penalty for himself.

“Carson is that all-worldly talent that you put him in any situation he’s going to be fantastic,” Westfield/Brocton head coach Neil Huber stated. “He’s an unselfish player and that’s one of the things you really like to see. He does the moves, he does what he does, but he’s also setting guys up. He had two assists tonight. Obviously he scored our first goal, but I was very pleased with how things went. You can’t say enough good things about Carson. He’s a leader, he does what he needs to do and it’s fun to watch.”

Even after missing the penalty, Swanson got right back to work by creating another chance in the box for himself just minutes later. Several Wolverines collapsed into the box to help regain the lead, but this time Maple Grove was rewarded on the counter-attack with Fletcher DeMink capping off the sequence from Foley.

Westfield/Brocton’s Austin McIntyre (7) and Maple Grove’s Trey DeMink (8) race toward a ball in the first half of Tuesday’s CCAA Central soccer game in Bemus Point. P-J photo by Christian Storms

Five minutes after taking its first lead, Maple Grove added an insurance tally with Foley crossing a perfect pass into the box that Oste deflected into the back of the net for the 4-2 lead. Then, in the 77th minute, Maple Grove added the final tally with Caleb Barton finishing off a play assisted by Camden Lombardo.

As the game wound down Maple Grove’s offense, now without two-time OBSERVER/Post-Journal Player of the Year Eli Moore, started to play with much more confidence as several players began stepping up.

“We’ve got 10 seniors on the team and seven juniors,” Daigler said about his team’s depth. “Those guys have all been around for a long time and they’re all very capable. Our plan this year is to have everybody step up all at once and, honestly, we’re well on our way in doing that. I think that makes us very unpredictable and very dangerous in the offensive end. Eli Moore will be obviously missed, but the next generation is here.”

The 5-2 deficit put the game out of reach, but it didn’t stop the fight in the Wolverines as they battled to get another goal. Once again they worked in transition, getting the ball to Swanson first then pivoted to Aiden Gatto who had a nice run into the box and chipped in the Wolverines’ third goal.

“Our fight has always been there,” Huber added. “Maple Grove is a great team. I can’t take away from them. It was a duel back and forth, but we did fight well. I know we’re going to be playing these guys hard again.”

Westfield/Brocton’s Tristen Phillips (3) knocks a ball away from Maple Grove’s Ty Kraft. P-J photo by Christian Storms

Wolverines’ Carson Swanson fights off Maple Grove’s Trey DeMink and strikes past for the opening goal in Tuesday’s CCAA Central soccer game in Bemus Point. P-J photo by Christian Storms

Maple Grove's Ty Kraft protects the ball from Westfield/Brocton defenders Micah Heim, center, and Mason Baum. P-J photo by Christian Storms

Maple Grove goalkeeper Nathan Cresanti leaps for a save. P-J photo by Christian Storms