Fuller lifts Prattsburgh
BY BOB BENZ THE LEADER

CAMPBELL - Following a scoreless first half, Prattsburgh's Wade Fuller made certain Wednesday's, Sept. 26, Steuben County encounter with Campbell- Savona wouldn't end in a 0-0 tie.

Not quite 15 minutes into the second half, Fuller punched in a high shot at point-blank range to put the Vikings on the scoreboard. Later in the half, Fuller headed in what proved to be a necessary insurance goal as Prattsburgh held off Campbell-Savona for a 2-1 victory.

While both teams were unable to convert numerous first-half scoring chances, Fuller made the most of his opportunities with the game on the line.

And by the time the Panthers finally cashed in with a Camden Wright goal late in the second half, Campbell-Savona left itself just 1:42 to find the equalizer it never got.

"Wade Fuller played a heck of a game," Campbell-Savona head coach Mike Eckstein said. "Our offense had our chances and we couldn't capitalize on our chances. The game was great - both teams played really well. We had our chances, but didn't capitalize."

After taking a feed from teammate Tyler Ortiz, Fuller used a quick burst to put Prattsburgh on the scoreboard. Fuller got past a pair of defenders and then lifted a shot into the top right side of the net with 30:10 showing in regulation.

The Vikings added a second goal shortly after Dustin Drake started a rush with a perfect cross to Phil Maciuska who headed the ball on goal. Although Campbell-Savona goalie Brent Jones batted away the initial shot, Fuller rushed in and headed in the rebound.

"Every time we come to Campbell it's usually a pretty close game," Fuller said. "We just had to get our passes a lit tle bit tighter and work harder on defense."

Despite the two-goal deficit, the Panthers did not go away quietly.

Following a handful of close calls around the goal, Wright finally solved Prattsburgh keeper Doug Lewis with less than two minutes to play. Ray Adams set up Wright's goal with a perfect through ball pass. Wright then did the rest as he stopped, set himself and drilled a low liner into the right side of the net.

"Camden had five or six chances for goals that just didn't go in," Eckstein said. "We couldn't put the ball in the goal tonight. I'd like to walk away with the win, but we played well. My guys are getting there. We're almost where we need to be, so finishing the ball is what we need to do."

Prattsburgh got a big effort from Lewis who turned back eight shots in goal. Jones finished with 12 saves for Campbell-Savona.

"I thought our goalkeeper Doug Lewis played a really good game," Prattsburgh head coach Dan Ulmer said. "He saved us probably five or six times where it was crucial."

Although Prattsburgh ended up out shooting Campbell- Savona by a 14-11 count, Ulmer wasn't exactly pleased with what he saw in the first half.

"To be honest with you, Prattsburgh didn't come out and play Prattsburgh soccer in the first half," Ulmer said. "We needed to step it up a bit, we were letting the ball touch the ground and we were just a little bit short getting to the ball before they did."

"I still think we've got lots of spots to improve," Fuller said.