At times, it has been a dramatic, nerve-racking journey, but the Westmoreland-Oriskany Boys Varsity Soccer team doesn’t seem to mind.
In fact, they’re thriving under the pressure. 
For the second straight game, the team won on penalty kicks to advance in the Section III Class C tournament.
After a 2-2 tie at the end of regulation and two 15-minute overtime periods, the No. 4 seed Bulldogs defeated No. 1 seed South Lewis 3-1 in penalty kicks in a Section III Class C semifinal game on October 30 at VVS High School.
Westmoreland-Oriskany’s Trevor Tamburino, Mark Van Deusen and Colton Davis each netted clutch penalty kicks and goalkeeper Drew Pysnik once again made a pair of big saves.
Jesse Sweet and Caleb Miller each scored a goal for Westmoreland-Oriskany during regulation. Both goals were assisted by Colton Davis.
Matt Skorupa and Jacob Worden scored for South Lewis.
“The team, in every definition of the word, is a team,” Gil Palladino, Westmoreland-Oriskany coach, said. “They love each other and will do anything for each other. I have 24 kids, and you couldn’t tell who made the game-winning goal.”
With the win, Westmoreland-Oriskany (15-4-1) will play No. 2 seed Bishop Grimes (17-3) in the Section III Class C final on Tuesday, November 5, at VVS High School. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.
While Westmoreland and Oriskany have had a combined soccer program for several years, Westmoreland has never won a section title in boys soccer.
Best of luck to the Westmoreland-Oriskany Boys Varsity Soccer team!
Coach Palladino’s quote was taken from the Observer-Dispatch.