Delaney: Don't look back

Cory Rowland's high school soccer career ended on Wednesday night.

The skilled Ilion senior forward was held without a point in a 4-1 home sectional playoff loss to Skaneateles. Rowland ends his four years at Ilion with 61 goals - second on the school's goal list behind his uncle, Brad Sweeney, who scored 66 in 3-plus varsity seasons before graduating in 1996.

 

Rowland had a crack at breaking Sweeney's mark, but now it seems a one-game suspension earlier this month was costly. Rowland got a red card (two yellows) for arguing a call earlier this month in a match against Mohawk. He had to sit out Ilion's next game which was against Adirondack, the team with the worst record in CSC I. Rowland scored five goals in two games after the suspension so it's tough to think he wouldn't have gotten closer with time against the Wildcats.

 

I hope the record wasn't too important for Rowland. He understood what his suspension meant - for himself and his team - and when I asked him about the record after his return, he took a "it depends on sectionals" approach. Now that he has fallen short of Sweeney's record, I hope Rowland doesn't ask himself 'What if?'

 

Rowland is a terrific player with talent to play at the next level. Ilion coach Jim Mott said that is Rowland's interest. I hope he asks himself 'what's next?'