By CHRIS BROOKS, sports editor, wellsvillesports.com
WHITESVILLE — For the second time this season, Friendship/Scio and Andover/Whitesville would come together and tread on even ground, and they would end the game the exact same way.
After tying in their first round battle right at the beginning of the season in Genesee Valley’s season-opening tournament, the two foes did it all over again just under a month later in Whitesville, with a goal in each half being awarded to bring the game towards a 1-1 tie that could not be broken after 100 complete minutes of play.
A midfield battle between both teams would develop for much of the first 40 minutes of play. With some attempts at cracking through one another’s defense followed suit, it would create the first break right at the midway mark from Andover/Whitesville (0-7-2), as Kennedy Bledsoe finished off a big penalty kick deep in the Friendship/Scio zone to give them the 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
The lead was theirs to hold onto and control, but Friendship/Scio (3-4-2) would have other plans in store within the first 10 minutes. Right near nine minutes removed from the clock, Cierra Davenport flipped the script with the game-tying goal. The score was just one of two shots that the visitors would have on the Andover/Whitesville net all game, as they were outshot by a 14-2 total count.
The 1-1 deadlock would remain in place for the remainder of the game, despite multiple opportunities for each side to try and break it, as both teams settled on their second tie of the season.
Olivia Waters would set aside one shot for the hosts, while Grace Drumm made 13 saves for Friendship/Scio.
On Monday, both teams will hit the road for a pair of 7 p.m. first kicks, with Andover/Whitesville heading to Judy Bliven Field in Belmont to meet Genesee Valley/Belfast, while Friendship/Scio pays a visit to undefeated Fillmore.
BOYS SOCCER
Friendship/Scio 2, Jasper-Troupsburg 1
TROUPSBURG — Jordan White and Ethan Davenport provided Friendship/Scio with a solid 1-2 punch over the road on Saturday. Because of it, they would grab a first half lead to work with going into the break.
But then some late stage heroics began to unfold, which would allow the host Jasper-Troupsburg Wildcats to re-enter the fray with the game-tying goal right near the homestretch. With the game tied, Friendship/Scio would have one final card to play in the shape of a go-ahead goal with under four minutes remaining, which would help them springboard towards victory by a 2-1 count in the end.
White and Davenport were responsible for recording two big goals to start and end the battle on the highest of notes for Friendship/Scio (3-6). In between their goals, Jasper-Troupsburg made a late push coming down the stretch with under 13 minutes remaining, netting the game-tying goal to put added pressure up against their visiting opposition.
But Friendship/Scio was able to hang on in the end, surviving a whole lot of bending from the Wildcats to record the go-ahead goal with 3:26 left to play, taking a lead that they held onto for so long, back officially for good.
Further statistics were not available to report upon publication.
Friendship/Scio will return home for a 5 p.m. first kick with the Hinsdale Bobcats coming on Tuesday, in Friendship.
Houghton Academy 7, Hinsdale 0
HOUGHTON — The Houghton Academy offense saw an outstanding tenure of offense blossom into big things Saturday on their home turf, as four different goal-scorers had a helping hand in collecting a 7-0 victory over visiting Hinsdale to collect their fourth straight win after starting the season 2-2.
Brian Patipewe scored an eight-point afternoon on the attack for the Panthers (6-2), finding the back of the Hinsdale net three times and handing out helpers on two different occasions to kick the tires. Josh Davidson added in two goals himself, while Lucas Matias scored a goal and two assists. Furthering the cause was Pedro Rebello, who rounded off with a goal and assist, while Shams Zia handed out an assist of his own.
Houghton Academy would total 22 shots on the Hinsdale (1-7) net, with Ethan Chapman making 15 saves for the Bobcats, who continue their road swing into Friendship on Tuesday for a 5 p.m. contest against host Friendship/Scio.
On the other end, the win was awarded to Marco Zanini, who went on to make all five saves on the shots he saw to record the shutout for the Panthers.
Fillmore 9, Cuba-Rushford 1
FILLMORE — Seven different goal scorers all had a hand in making Fillmore’s Homecoming weekend a complete success, including one of Section V’s best in Mitch Ward, who had another fiery night on the field with a hat trick and three assists to complete his nine-point night on offense in the team’s 9-1 rolling against visiting Cuba-Rushford on Saturday.
“It was a great night for us to cap Homecoming weekend,” said Eagles coach Jarrett Vosburg. “There was a lot of selfless play by the boys, and it led to great possession soccer and seven different goal scorers. For me to even mention one of my players individually as a difference maker would be a disservice to the incredible play we had as a team. My hat goes off to the boys for truly representing what it means to be a Fillmore Eagle on an important night for the program.”
The Eagles (8-0) scored nine goals in all, starting the night off with a 3-0 lead before adding onto it with six more goals from five more different scorers aside from Ward, who completed his hat trick five minutes after Eben Schilke started the second half with his unassisted tally.
Following Ward on the attack were Noah Strickland, Henry Sardina, Aiden Wagner, Damon Wood and Henry Decker, who all had a goal to add in. On special teams, Sardina and Zach Sisson each handed out a pair of helpers, while Layton Sanasith added one more of his own. The Eagles offense wound up collecting 23 total shots as a unit to pace their efforts.
As for the Rebels (3-7), they were able to eliminate the shutout 41 seconds after Fillmore scored their final tally of the game, as Anderson Siegel found the back of the net off a pass from Kaden Bell — one of two shots that the Eagles defense would limit them to.
In goal, Luke Colombo grabbed the win behind one save, while Cuba-Rushford’s Adam Shaffer set aside 12 saves — an effort that Vosburg commended the Rebels keeper on, saying that “Special recognition goes out to Adam Shaffer. He had an incredibly difficult task tonight, and he was able to make some incredible saves for his team, at least six or seven of them. He was fantastic.”
