Jacob Botterill’s third goal in a recent match against Jamestown Community College was enough to break a two-decade-old scoring record at Cayuga Community College, but the midfielder wasn’t finished there. By the end of the game, he had tallied two more goals, cementing his place in the Spartans’ record books.
With his five-goal effort on October 4, Botterill, a sophomore from Leicester, England, surpassed Martin Kelly’s record of 58 goals, a mark that had stood since the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Botterill’s career total now stands at 67 goals after adding three more in matches against Tompkins Cortland Community College and SUNY Niagara, setting him up for postseason play as Cayuga’s all-time leading scorer.
Reflecting on the milestone, Botterill expressed both pride and humility. “It’s obviously nice to break that mark and to be remembered for it, but I hope someone else breaks it in the future because that’s a lot of goals scored for Cayuga,” he said.
Botterill’s record-breaking performance builds on an already outstanding career. In the 2023 season, he led all NJCAA Division III players with 31 goals, and while both he and coach Chris Davison were uncertain whether breaking the school record was achievable this year, Botterill quickly proved otherwise. After a scoreless season opener, he netted 20 goals in the next seven matches, including six against Clinton Community College.
Botterill was quick to credit his teammates for his success, noting that players like striker Reece Harper and winger Bigad Sid, along with Coach Davison, played crucial roles in his goal-scoring prowess. “My teammates wanted me to break the record, and Coach Davison was a big part of this happening as well,” Botterill said. “I’ve just been able to anticipate where the ball falls and to be in the right place at the right time.”
The Spartans, meanwhile, have put together a dominant 2024 season. After starting the year unranked, they rose to a #3 national ranking, defeating three top-10 teams along the way. They completed an undefeated regular season at 14-0 and are awaiting their postseason schedule.
Individually, Botterill has continued his scoring dominance. With 36 goals so far this season, he leads NJCAA Division III once again and ranks fifth nationally with 16 assists. His coach, Chris Davison, who was an All-American during his own time at Cayuga, called Botterill the best player to ever come through the program.
“It’s been an honor to coach him and watch him mature as a person and a player,” Davison said. “I’m so glad the record has gone to him for the all-time goal scorer. To be number one nationally in goals scored two straight years is a huge achievement.”
Despite his individual success, Botterill remains focused on the team’s goals, which include advancing as far as possible in the postseason. “I’d rather win the match than build my own stats,” he said. “We’ve got Regionals, and hopefully Nationals. We want to go as far as possible, and I’m thankful for everyone who helped get us in this position.”
With the Spartans entering postseason play, Botterill and his teammates are aiming to continue their undefeated run and make a deep push in the national tournament.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].