Lakers Explode for 14 Goals in Shutout of Erie

P.C. - Nataliia Proskurnia (@flicks_by_nat_ on Instagram)

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. - #6-ranked Finger Lakes wasted little time setting the tone, scoring four times in the opening 20 minutes to put the match out of reach early. Lennart Schaefer (Dortmund, Germany/Max-Planck-Gymnasium) opened the floodgates in the 4th minute from a pass by Riley Cooper (Aberdeen, Scotland/Dyce Academy). From there, the attack poured forward in waves, with Bernardo Reffiel Del Castel (Sergipe, Brazil/Pró-mundo), Daniel Ojedayo (Ibadan, Nigeria/Opicc), and Robin Giesing (Essen, Germany/Gymnasium-Essen-Werden) each finding the back of the net inside the first 20 minutes.

The Lakers carried a 6–0 lead into halftime, highlighted by a composed strike from Germán Guzzi (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Imei) in the 35th minute and a well-worked finish from Finn Atkinson (Warrington, England/Kings Leadership Academy Warrington) just before the break.

The second half was more of the same, as Finger Lakes scored eight unanswered. Sam Gerrards (Manchester, England/Wellington School) struck just moments after the restart on a penalty kick, followed by tallies from Giesing, Noah Gouveia Pflüger (Konstanz, Germany/Heinrich-Suso-Gymnasium), Guzzi, and a pair from Ojedayo to complete his hat trick. Freshman defender Mark Musembi (Nairobi, Kenya/Rosslyn Academy) and Guzzi added insurance goals late to cap the 14–0 final.

The Lakers spread the scoring across the roster: Ojedayo and Guzzi each recorded hat tricks, Giesing added two, and seven other players contributed goals. Reffiel Del Castel tallied a goal and an assist, while Atkinson registered a hat-trick of assists with three to go with his first-half strike. Cooper added two assists in the effort, and Harry Eastwick (Christchurch, New Zealand/St. Thomas of Canterbury College) collected the shutout in net as Erie failed to record a shot on goal.

Looking Ahead:
Finger Lakes (5–1) continues Region III play at home this Saturday, September 13th, at 1 PM against the Clinton Community College Cougars.