Batavia blanks Geneva 4-0 in boys soccer
Cody Witkowski emerged as the star of the show, but it was twin midfielders Eduardo Cuautle and Anthony Torres who truly powered the latest Batavia victory.
The three four-year varsity members of the Bulldogs' boys soccer program were clearly the difference in leading their squad past Geneva 4-0 Tuesday night in Upstate Eight River action in Batavia.
Witkowski scored the first of his 3 goals two-plus minutes into the match off Torres' brilliant feed, and Cuaulte was equally dazzling with his playmaking.
The two senior midfielders had a pair of assists each as Geneva had few answers for the dominant triumvirate.
The Bulldogs (6-0, 2-0) extended their season-long winning streak to six matches while dropping their archrivals to 2-4, 1-1 in the River.
“They're great facilitators with the ball,” Witkowski said of his senior teammates who bedeviled the Vikings' defense all evening with their pinpoint longball passing and eye-popping dribbling in the open field. “On the first goal it was just a great ball from Anthony.”
Geneva coach Ryan Estabrook has seen the Bulldogs' three-headed monster since the halcyon days of the defunct Western Sun.
“(Torres) has been the face of Batavia soccer for quite a while,” Estabrook said.
Barely two minutes into the match, Torres' feed to Witkowsk was right on the mark; the senior created separation from his Geneva defender and lobbed a perfect chip over the Vikings' keeper to break the ice.
“You spend the rest of the game chasing the score,” Estabrook said of the first Witkowski goal with 37:21 remaining in the opening half.
“It's just something that happens,” Torres said. “(Witkowski) went right to where the ball was.”
Midway through the half, Cuautle showcased his deadly skills off corner kicks.
The left-footed senior, whose earlier drive was stopped by the Vikings' keeper, was not denied on his second chance.
Cuautle rifled a corner to the Vikings' left post that Nick Barstatis finished to double the Bulldogs' first-half cushion.
“I try to find our bigger guys who are better in the air,” Cuautle said.
The Bulldogs' 2-0 lead at the intermission only served as a preview of the second half when Witkowksi scored twice in less than 90 seconds off respective feeds from Cuautle and Torres.
“I was going to take the shot,” Cuautle said of his penetrating run in the open field. “But then I saw Cody making a beautiful run.”
Torres' second assist gave Witkowski the hat-trick moments later.
“I managed to get behind (the Geneva defense),” Witkowski said.
The match was noticeably physical at times with players from both sides taking nasty spills.
Geneva could manage only 5 shots on Batavia keepers Ben Steskal and Mike Rueffer.
“We've got some quality players on this team,” Estabrook said. “Hopefully (the final score) can serve as a motivator throughout the rest of the season.”