Breaking News
Local Sports

On the board

Pihlblad\'s hat trick propels Randolph in 2nd half

By Christian Storms 5 min read

FALCONER -- The Randolph boys soccer team faced some tough competition to begin the season at the Gator Cup and was unable to find the back of the net in two losses against Genesee Valley and Avoca/Prattsburg.

Those difficult nonleague contests sharpened the Cardinals, however, and they finally found the back of the net on Wednesday against Cassadaga Valley/Falconer.

Randolph senior Isaac Pihlblad broke a scoreless tie in the 52nd minute and added two more goals from the penalty marker to secure a 3-1 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division II victory on Bill Race Field.

"We've played in the Gator Cup a couple of years," Randolph head coach Dave Pihlblad said. "It's always good competition. It was an eye opener for us with things we've got to work on, and putting the ball in the back of the net is obviously something. We didn't score in the first two games and today it wasn't pretty, but we just kept working on the things from the last couple of days in practice and we saw a lot of growth this past week. I was very happy with the result today."

Randolph controlled most of the possession in the first half, while the Golden Cougars primarily relied on long balls for their attack. Despite being in the Cassadaga Valley/Falconer end most of the half the Cardinals struggled to get anything on the scoreboard.

The Cardinals had eight corners before the break, but each time Cassadaga Valley/Falconer managed to clear the danger. Even when Randolph did manage a breakthrough, it was first-year goalkeeper Jackson Marsh coming up with a big save.

"We told them you've just got to be patient," Coach Pihlblad said. "We've kind of been frustrated because the ball is just not going in the back of the net and we just told them to continue to trust each other and continue to play your game and the goals will come, and they came pretty quickly in the second half."

Preston Eccles nearly got Randolph on the board in the 39th minute when a through ball sent him past the defense, but the one-on-one battle was won by Marsh, who came up with one of his six saves.

Both teams found their footing in the second half once the rain had subsided and the Golden Cougars nearly struck first in the 47th minute off a deflection on a free kick, but Randy Nottingham made one of his three saves.

However, a few minutes later the deadlock was broken when Gavin Senn set up Pihlblad outside the box and this time -- with a little bit of breathing room -- he didn't hesitate and sent a strike screaming low at the left post and in.

"The last couple of years with the players he has had around him that are now gone, he never had to be, 'the guy,' the leader and showing by example," Coach Pihlblad said. "Today he was the best player out there and when we needed him to finish those goals. He's been playing great this year."

Randolph got a jolt of energy after its first goal of the season and kept the pressure coming. After several chances and moves into the box, the Golden Cougars finally made a defensive mistake with a foul on Aydan Eccles, setting up the first penalty kick in the 62nd minute.

Pihlblad made no mistake from the penalty mark with a powerful shot into the low-right corner for a 2-0 lead.

"We have 20 guys and we go pretty much 20 deep," Coach Pihlblad said about his roster. "I haven't had that with a team in many years, maybe ever. We cycle guys through, they play 5-10 minutes and they just work and work. The penalties we got were just guys working and running through tackles. Ayden Eccles came off the bench and got taken out and that was the second PK for us. Just the depth and all of the guys contributing is huge."

The Golden Cougars did not go down quietly when a foul in the 64th minute set up a free kick on the 35-yard line. With the long-range shot, the play was for a lob into the box hoping for a Cassadaga Valley/Falconer header, but Jakob Huling's delivery had eyes and the senior cut the deficit to 2-1.

Randolph did not falter with the new burst of energy by Cassadaga Valley/Falconer (0-1-0, 0-1-0), but instead got back to work and once again earned another penalty in the 69th minute dribbling into the box. Pihlblad went the same way again to complete the hat trick and secure the 3-1 league victory.

With crucial league matches hosting Portville and Ellicottville/Franklinville next week, Randolph (1-2-0, 1-0-0) began the schedule with a hard-fought win.

"Our league is really tough," Coach Pihlblad added about CCAA Division II. "Portville and Ellicottville are two of the best teams around and we knew if we wanted to put ourselves in a good position for league standings and playoff points that we had to win tonight. I thought the guys responded really well and it got us 1-0 in the league and we'll build from that, hopefully."

Starting at /week.