LEWISTON — Owen Redfern kicked Lewiston-Porter’s shot out of bounds and turned to his right, looking for the rest of the Grand Island defense. The Vikings had a three-goal lead with less than five minutes left in regulation, but the four-man defensive formation had to stay alert.
Moments later, a direct shot from the Lancers’ Seamus O’Keefe is batted away by the fist of Grand Island senior goalkeeper Jacob Csicseri, followed by a redirected shot that goes wide of the net. The Vikings also display Tic-tac-toe passing from the back line and out, leading to opportunities in the attacking zone.
The late stops to secure a 4-1 win against Lew-Port Wednesday was just the latest example of how Grand Island’s defense has been one of the top units in Section VI this season, with a 12-0-1 record. Entering Friday, the Vikings have allowed only two goals, the fewest in the section, and led them to the Niagara Frontier League championship against Lockport at 7 p.m. Thursday in North Tonawanda.
Through 13 games, Grand Island has relied on Csicseri in net, while senior centerbacks, Redfern and Ian Hannon, and senior defenders Bryan Decker and Jacob Hazel provide pressure against opposing forwards, while classmate Evan Pickering is also in the rotation. It’s all being done with a new head coach.
Former Nichols coach Robert Ross has taken over for longtime coach Frank Butcher, who stepped down to spend more time with his family after winning six NFL championships and six Section VI titles in 14 seasons. Ross previously went 36-11-3 at Nichols and he has fit in seamlessly at Grand Island.
“They really buy into who’s that top player, eyes on him and all the time,” Ross said. “But they also play their own game. They’re not afraid to possess that ball throughout the back. They’re just a solid four and I think they’re really buying into it as the games possess. I’ve definitely seen growth in these back four since the Hamburg game (on Sept. 3).”
Currently No. 3 in the New York State Sportswriters Association Class A rankings, Grand Island hasn’t had this type of success defensively in years. Last season, the blue-and-white allowed 17 goals and opponents scored 42 times two years ago as it finished runners-up to Niagara Wheatfield in the Section VI Class A championship.
The two goals allowed are the fewest against Grand Island since nine were scored on in 2016. The Vikings finished that season with a 22-1 overall, NFL and sectional crowns and were Class A state runners-up to Section I’s Somers.
This season, Grand Island’s defensive efforts have led to success, including against six teams with a combined 53-22-4 this season. The list includes a 2-0 win on Sept. 28 over 11-2 St. Joe’s of the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association; a 4-1 win over 10-3 Lockport, the Niagara division champions and a 0-0 draw and a 4-1 win over 10-1-2 Lew-Port, which has averaged seven goals a game.
“It’s a family,” Redfern said. “We love each other. We die for each other out here. … We’re always covering each other. We’re always communicating. We have a telepathic connection to each other. We’re always communicating. It just always works. We’re always talking to each other.”
Along with the defensive unit comes the play of Cscieri in net, recording 10 shutouts, the most among all greater Niagara region teams. Plus, Cscieri has recorded at least five saves in four different contests, including nine and seven in the two meetings with Lew-Port and five against St. Joe’s.
“He doesn’t talk a lot but in big games like (Lew-Port), he’s a leader and he just sees the game so well,” Ross said. “He can predict a lot of things. His reactions are one I’ve never seen at that high school level. I’ve been around a decent amount of goalies, and he’s definitely a special player.”