Gardner’s Goal Gets the Win

A few weeks ago Tonawanda boys’ soccer coach James Gabor said that senior co-captain Ryan Gardner had been the team’s version of an unsung hero. Gardner has done everything that has been asked of him. Played anywhere. Has always worked hard and just quietly has been doing everything very well under the radar.

On this night Ryan Gardner was flying above the radar.

Gardner scored the game-winning goal with 2:27 left in double overtime to lift the No.5 seed Warriors to a win over No.12 Fredonia in the Section VI Class B-2 pre quarterfinals that were played at Clinton H. Small Stadium on Tuesday night.

The win vaults the Warriors into Thursday’s quarterfinals where they will play at Southwestern.

“It was just a rebound off the keeper,” Gardner said. “He didn’t catch the ball and I put it in. It felt pretty good, especially with everyone climbing on me.”

As “Sweet Caroline” played in the background over the P.A., Gardner couldn’t contain his smile as he talked about the thrill of getting that winning goal and having his teammates dog pile him as they celebrated.

Far as coach Gabor is concerned that was a goal Gardner worked hard to get and a moment, and memory, he so richly deserved.

“He’s a guy that’s gonna be there to make the play,” Gabor said. “We said put yourself in a position to make a play and that’s what Ryan did.”

Tied 1-1 after regulation, the two clubs battled through the first 15 minute overtime and appeared headed to a shoot out when Gardner managed to poke the ball by D’Agustino. The Hillbillies struck first when Jackson Taylor lifted the ball over Warriors goal keeper Adam Moore three minutes into the game.

The Warriors were slow out of the gate as the combination of Fredonia drawing first blood and playing without two key starters, Dylan Lewis and Cam Brunetta, clearly threw off their timing.

“Yeah it definitely took us a little time to get together we had our chances,” Gardner said, “We should have finished earlier. It shouldn’t have come down to this, but we got the win.”

Brunetta and Lewis had to sit out the game due to yellow cards they both drew against Lackawanna in the final game of the regular season on Oct.8. Both are eligible to return on Thursday.

As the game flowed into the second the Warriors took control of the game as they kept consistent pressure on Fredonia keeper Carter D’Agustino. Noah Meister, who was credited with an assist on Gardner’s game-winner, forced the overtime sessions when he found the back of the net after a wild scrum that came with 18 minutes left in regulation.

Though the majority of the game was played throughout rain and heavy winds the end result was Ryan Gardner having his moment in the sun. But as Gardner walked off the field all he really cared about was that he and his teammates were still alive in the sectional playoff chase. “I play for the team,” Gardner said. “I do my to help the team win and that’s all that matters.”