ONEONTA - For nearly 93 minutes, the Skaneateles boys soccer team manhandled Chenango Forks.

In a similar matter as when the Lakers overpowered Mount Markham, Lowville and South Jefferson to earn their first Section III, Class B title in 19 years, Skaneateles (13-6-3) relentlessly competed in the NYSPHSAA quarterfinal on Saturday. But what began as a miserable and wet afternoon for both teams ended with Skaneateles players falling to their knees in anguish after the team's 1-0 overtime loss to the Blue Devils. On the muddy and sloppy field behind the Soccer Hall of Fame museum in Oneonta, the Lakers left their hearts and exhaustion for a season that ended, perhaps, too soon.

“This was a great game,” said Lakers head coach Kirk Atwater. “Chenango Forks is a tough team, and today might not have been the greatest field conditions, but each team battled and played their hearts out. We just came up a little short.”

With 2:04 remaining in the first 15-minute overtime, Blue Devils senior Tyler Gil found the net on a pass by Pat Creagh to end the game.

“I thought the ball was turning the other way,” Gil said. “But it bounced off of Pat and it went in. I couldn't believe it - this was a crazy game. We had to fight the whole way and luckily we came out with the win. I couldn't even fathom this. I didn't score a lot of goals this season, but this one will stay with me for awhile.”

Now the Blue Devils will meet Section I's Bronxville Friday afternoon on the same field in the state semifinals. They will have to do better than they did against the Lakers for most of the game. Skaneateles peppered Chenango Forks' lanky goalie Casey Redfern with 19 shots, while coming up with just five themselves - two in each half during regulation before the only one that mattered in overtime.

Redfern managed 17 saves, in every way, in every situation - breakaway shots, scrums in front of the net, direct kicks. The junior put together an impressive afternoon, especially considering how much work he was getting in.

“Their goalie stepped up and kept them in the game,” Atwater said. “We played pretty well today too - we just couldn't find the ball in the net. That's what happens on rainy days like this, but that's how you play this game. It just takes one goal and we came up just a little short.”

The Blue Devils hero for the day admitted the Lakers' ability to incessantly get shots on his team was wearing them down.

“Especially towards the end of the second half,” Gil said. “They were taking too many shots on us and we were thinking we needed to get at least one, and obviously it takes just one shot to make a game. (Redfern) is just amazing. Any other kid would have let some of those shots through, but it was a whole team effort today. It wasn't just my goal, it was everybody.”

Bryan Stokes-Cawley led the Lakers offensively, with four shots on Redfern, while captain Austin Parker and Ryan Ferrell attempted three each. Goalie Jacob Bird managed seven saves.

“This team has everything to be proud of,” Atwater said. “To make it this far, it's hard right now but we played tough and I give (Chenango Forks coach Don Brozovic) all the credit in the world. They had a great game plan and I give them my congratulations. We're proud of what we accomplished and we're looking forward to get back into it next year.”

Blue Devils 1

Lakers 0