Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018: Commack boys blank Brentwood in soccer

   Leading off today: Tyler Meotti and Liam Rothar scored second-half goals to lead No. 4 Commack to a 2-0 win at No. 9 Brentwood in a Monday night game between state-ranked Suffolk County Class AA boys soccer teams.

   Commack swept the teams' regular-season games.

   "Any time you can come here and pull out a win is amazing," coach Dave Moran said. "But make no mistake about it, that team is going to come after you in the playoffs. They're a fantastic program that's well coached with a plethora of good players."

   Brian Mirman made three saves for the shutout for Commack.

   Liverpool streak snapped: Ethan Doerschuk registered seven saves for Cicero-North Syracuse in a 2-1 win in overtime over sixth-ranked Liverpool.

   Joe Barraco and Max Euceda scored the C-NS goals to end the Warriors' 10-game winning streak.

   Ben White made 12 saves in the loss.

   More boys soccer: Hilton, ranked fifth in Class AA, escaped with a 3-2 win over Brighton, ranked 14th in Class A.

   Noah Malta converted a free kick from 30 yards out on the left side in the 62nd minute for Hilton's third lead of the contest.

   "We had that game circled as potentially the hardest challenge we'll have all season," the Cadets' Mike Ellicott said. "It certainly did not let down. It lived up to its billing."

   Girls soccer: Kamryn Barnes scored six times to raise her season total to 32 goals as LaFargeville defeated Alexandria 8-1. The senior striker scored her team's first five goals of the game.

   Rachel Davis assisted on five LaFargeville goals and also scored a goal.

   Rankings progress: We're still looking for assistance from a knowledgeable girls soccer observer in Sections 3 who can supply short weekly lists of the top teams (with their records) in each of the five state playoff classes. If you're interested in assisting in girls soccer, fire off an email to jmoriello@yahoo.com.

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   Bertram switches roles: David Bertram, whose Cooperstown boys basketball teams went 256-87 with five Section 3 titles in 16 seasons, is giving up his coaching duties in that sport and tennis to be the school's AD and extra-curricular programs coordinator.

   "I'm a little torn about it," said Bertram, whose boys tennis teams went 240-15 with eight sectional championships in 18 seasons. "It's going to be hard stepping away from it."

   A very dumb idea: A homecoming tradition at a Texas high school went far, far off the tracks Friday as students burned an effigy of a black player on an opposing football team at a ritual bonfire.

RoadToSyracuse.com football site

   The "Vandal Bonfire" has been a tradition at Van High School, 70 miles east of Dallas, since the 1940s. Students light a large "V" that ignites the rest of the bonfire, atop which traditionally sits an effigy of the opposing team's best player.

   A video of the bonfire lighting was posted to the school district's Facebook page, then removed after the event drew criticism.

   "Historically, the number on the player's jersey at the top of the bonfire has always been the same number as the opposing team's best player. This is by no means a racial issue and never has been," a statement from the school district said. "Van would never promote, condone, or allow this long-standing tradition to target an opposing team or player because of their race. We understand that some people who are not familiar with our bonfire tradition could misinterpret photos or videos they may have seen on social media due to the current charged social and political climate."

   A thought: Screw the "current charged social and political climate." Race -- or religion, gender or sexual orientation -- isn't the point. When is it ever appropriate to burn in effigy a teenager whose identity could reasonably be presumed?

   Extra points: Glens Falls two-sport star Joe Girard III will make his college selection decision prior to the start of Section 2 football playoffs on Oct. 19, The Post-Star reported. Girard narrowed his list of 25 basketball offers down to Duke, Michigan, Notre Dame, Boston College, Penn State and Syracuse.