By CHRIS BROOKS, sports editor, wellsvillesports.com
BELMONT — The goal for Genesee Valley/Belfast on Homecoming Saturday, was to return back to form. With Avoca/Prattsburgh being welcomed into the Jungle, the hope was to leave three straight ties in the rearview mirror.
For good measure, Evan Turybury was able to help them do that. And much more.
Although the visiting Titans were able to tie up the game to go into the half on a high note, Turybury accounted for both of Genesee Valley/Belfast’s goals which came in the first five minutes of each half, including the go-ahead, and eventual game-winner to take the 2-1 victory — their first since September 20, to get back on track.
“Our defense has been playing really tough the last two weeks, and the offense finally scored,” said GV/Belfast coach Mark Sullivan. “We’re getting chances with 12 shots and eight corners, but there’s still some trouble with finishing the ball. There’s not much time left with Sectionals around the corner to try and keep improving. Justin (Hill) played a whale of a game in the midfield, he was outstanding and tough.”
Genesee Valley/Belfast (5-3-3) would put a rapid punctuation on their first big rush into the Avoca/Prattsburgh zone, with Tyler Rawleigh leading the charge down the near sidelines with a pass straight forward into the wheelhouse of Turybury, making a move around his man into the inside and breaking away for his first of two goals in the game at the 37-minute mark.
The momentum would shift into their favor after the goal, taking complete command of all facets on the field from the middle, to the attack and even clearing the zone on defense against the Titans. The pressure continued to boil over, but the temperature would come down just past midway when the Titans would find a game-tying strike off a massive corner kick opportunity.
Setting up shop was Carter Button from the near corner, sending a picture-perfect kick straight to the front of the goal, where the ball was met by an even more perfect header from Josiah Stilson to knock it into the net, finishing off the phenomenal play with 19:06 left on the clock.
The battle across midfield raged on and would settle in for the remainder of the half, as both teams went into the break back upon even playing ground.
But through the skirmish, Genesee Valley/Belfast would plug in another quick score to start the second half from Turybury in the first four minutes this time, as it became the eventual game-winner they would need to record the victory over the Titans. The pair of goals were part of a 12-shot performance on offense, while the defense held Avoca/Prattsburgh to five back the other way.
In goal, Thai Norasethaporn was credited with the win behind his four saves, while Chris Ruest made 10 saves for the visitors.
Genesee Valley/Belfast is now off until Monday back in Belfast, as they play host to the Hinsdale Bobcats in a 7 p.m. contest under the lights.
Canisteo-Greenwood 1, Friendship/Scio 0
SCIO — In the midst of a scoreless, midfield quagmire in Scio on Saturday, something between Canisteo-Greenwood and Friendship/Scio had to most certainly give.
Despite it, the gates of opportunity began to crack open in the second half. And it was the Redskins that had the key, as they capitalized on a massive scrum in front of the Friendship/Scio net, jarring the ball loose and finding the back of the net with it to pick up the game’s lone tally — a 1-0 shutout when the final buzzer sounded.
After a scoreless tie was reached after the first 40 minutes of play, the second half saw Canisteo-Greenwood pick up steam on the offensive attack by controlling much of the possession, after Friendship/Scio’s (3-8-1) best chance to tie the game from Ethan Davenport went just high and wide over top of the net.
As a result, the Redskins were able to work their way onto the board with a Declan McAneney boot in towards goal, which was met by a host of bodies parked right out in front. The ball was then pried loose by Kevin Siranni, who was able to find the right angle to poke the ball past Taylor Moore in net for Friendship/Scio to earn the only lead that was never lost.
The goal was one of six shots on goal for the Redskins, as they narrowly outshot the hosts by a 6-4 count. Noah Warriner would go on to make all four stops for the shutout, while Moore finished with five saves on the other end.
Friendship/Scio is back on the field Monday night in Scio, hosting Hammondsport in a 6 p.m. first kick.
Hinsdale 8, Andover/Whitesville 0
HINSDALE — To say that the Bobcats of Hinsdale had a field day, that would be an understatement. On Saturday back on their home field for the first time in nearly two weeks, it was a welcome home worthwhile, as the offense imploded with eight goals — a season-high, as they rolled away from visiting Andover/Whitesville and towards victory by an 8-0 count.
The tone was set after an early midfield battle between both teams, as Hinsdale (3-7) scored their first two goals in a four-minute span just past the 10-minute mark, as Damion Brown and Preston Jackson both found the back of the net, with the latter being the first of two, and Kadyn Cassidy handing out the assist to Brown.
A 3-0 lead at half time would ultimately be garnered as Cassidy rounded off the scoring with a goal of his own off a Jackson helper with under nine minutes remaining.
From start to finish in the second half, the Bobcats kept rolling along by adding even more to their advantage. In the last 40 minutes, they would score five more goals, including a pair from Jake Elliott to further distance themselves from Andover/Whitesville (1-11) to lock down the victory for good. Helping the attack was Robert Childs and Xander Pascucci, who each had a goal.
The eight goals for the Bobcats came off 20 total shots while Andover/Whitesville recorded six — all of which were stopped by Ethan Chapman to post the shutout in between the pipes. In goal for the visitors, Landon Ordway made 12 stops.
Both teams are back on the field Monday night in a pair of 7 p.m. first kicks, as Hinsdale hits the road to take on Genesee Valley/Belfast at the Rich Sullivan Complex in Belfast, while Andover/Whitesville travels to visit undefeated Fillmore.
GIRLS SOCCER
Canisteo-Greenwood 2, Cuba-Rushford 1 (F-OT)
HINSDALE — It has been an eventful thrill ride across the last 24 hours for the Lady Rebels of Cuba-Rushford, including Saturday afternoon’s home battle in Hinsdale.
After coming off their first tie of the season in what was a hard-fought battle against one of the County’s best defenses in Genesee Valley/Belfast, the Lady Rebels would be tested once again in a quick turnaround against one of Steuben County’s premier clubs — Canisteo-Greenwood.
The war was on, and it was waged all through the midfield for the majority of the battle through a scoreless first half, and into the final 40 minute frame. Towards the homestretch near midway, there was an uptick on offense after each team found the net once — enough to remain tied and force extra time. For the Lady Rebels, it was a second straight time.
In the first overtime period, the Lady Redskins built up a ton of pressure against the hosts, and ultimately saw it burst with what was their game-winning goal from Kendal Button, as she connected with the score with under six minutes remaining to give them the 2-1 edge to move to 11-1 on the season.
“Ultimately, we have played some of our best soccer of the season these last two games. Hopefully we can build on that going forward,” said Lady Rebels coach Aaron Wight. “We were under a ton of pressure from them in the last few minutes of the game, and they carried it into overtime. Two tough overtime games back-to-back against two tough teams. I thought we played pretty well today all things considered. We had a couple of good chances in the first half that we couldn’t finish, and it would come back to haunt us in the end.”
Through a fight across the field in the first half, it would shift into the remaining 40 minutes left to play in action. The first team to create an opening would wind up being the Lady Rebels (4-6-1), as Taylor Searle came through with the game’s first icebreaker at the 20:23 mark after connecting with Jen Tuttle on their lone goal to put them in front.
But just as fast as they were able to find their way onto the board, Canisteo-Greenwood’s response would be just as fast. A mere three minutes later, the Lady Redskins would eventually force overtime with a momentum shifter from Bailey Mullen, as she buried her shot which stemmed off a pass from Mya Rexford on the way into the offensive zone, tying the game with 17:19 left to play.
The Lady Redskins would then assume the majority of the control up until they found a way to put the game away for good behind Button’s game winner with 5:43 left, securing the enormous victory to keep their fiery season ablaze with their 11th win in 12 games.
Canisteo-Greenwood would come away with an 18-78 outshooting of Cuba-Rushford on offense, with Brooke Burd getting the win in between the posts with six saves. On the other end of the field, Tara Duvall set aside 16 shots for Cuba-Rushford.
Back in Cuba on Monday, the Lady Rebels will get set to welcome in Wellsville for a 5 p.m. first kick.
Andover/Whitesville 1, Friendship/Scio 0
SCIO — Andover/Whitesville has been a part of a myriad of close games this season. Out of 11 games played, seven of them have been decided by two goals or less. That also excludes their two ties, both with Friendship/Scio — their opponent on Saturday for the third and final time.
The possibility of a third tie between the two teams was most certainly on the table through all of the battling across the field that took place in Scio. With no scoring yet to find the scoreboard, a slight opening was created.
As a result, Kennedy Bledsoe made sure that at the end of the night, their first win would remain the only thing in sight.
The Andover/Whitesville senior made no mistake in giving the team their very first win of the season. In the late stages of the opening half, the upper-hand was established when she connected on a big goal to put them ahead of Friendship/Scio, ultimately for good to hang on and record the 1-0 shutout over the road to end the long wait for triumph.
“The reaction from the girls after the game is why Al (Barber) and I believe in them so much. There wasn’t any celebrating. They were happy to get a win, but they seemed more upset that it took this long,” said Andover/Whitesville co-coach Aaron Rawady. “We have been in a lot of close games this season, but we haven’t been able to get the job done. The girls aren’t happy with how things have been going, but they show up every day trying to get better, and that says a whole lot about them.”
Bledsoe delivered what was the golden goal for Andover/Whitesville (1-9-2) just past midway in the first half, weaving her way in on goal off a pass collected from Leigha Phelps, finding the back of the net with it to break the ice. From that point forward, it would be a battle of defenses all across the field — one that the visitors would manage to hang onto and win in the end.
The goal was one of seven shots that Andover/Whitesville would apply, as they outshot Friendship/Scio (3-7-2) by a 7-1 count, with Olivia Waters making the one stop to record the team’s first shutout of the year. On the other end, Grace Drumm made six saves for the hosts, who will now hit the road for a 6:30 p.m. contest at Hammondsport.
Andover/Whitesville will look to shift the momentum into Tuesday night back on their home field, as they gear up to face the Alfred-Almond Lady Eagles in a 5 p.m. first kick in Whitesville.
Hornell 10, Wellsville 1
HORNELL — There was simply no stopping the Lady Red Raiders of Hornell on Saturday.
In the Maple City on a gorgeous afternoon, they would not be denied a place in the win column against the Lady Lions of Wellsville, as the offense put a massive eruption on full display by finding the back of the net 10 times, including a massive first half lead they held onto from start to finish in what was a 10-1 win.
Hornell would score five goals in each half of play, garnering a 5-0 lead in the first half going into the break. The Lady Red Raiders would go on to score four more goals before the Lady Lions (1-9-1) were able to work their way onto the board themselves for the first and only time just past the midway mark of the second half.
The shutout was eliminated by the visitors in white and orange on a play set up by Carissa White near the far sidelines, and sent towards the Hornell cage where the pass was picked up by Caelyn Stevens for the goal.
Ireland Harrison led the Lady Red Raiders offense with a hat trick, while Stella Carretto added in two goals. Parker Graham, Reagan Evingham and Elaina Flaitz all had a goal and helper each to chip in, while Amaya Hoffman and Jordyn Dyring helped finish the scoring off with a goal. On special teams, Sophie Wilkins, Abby O’Donoghue and Allyson Buckley each had one assist.
In goal, the win was credited towards a combined effort between Alexis Patrick and Reese Harwood in goal for the hosts, as they made one of two stops to do so.
Next for the Lady Lions is another road trip on Monday, as they visit the Cuba-Rushford Lady Rebels in a 5 p.m. first kick.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Wellsville 3, Hinsdale 0
HINSDALE — The first set of action was as dominant of a start that the Lady Lions of Wellsville could have asked for, Saturday afternoon. With it, they would ultimately set the tone for the remainder of the match, scoring a straight-set victory over host Hinsdale to record their eighth win in first nine games by a 25-9, 25-11, 25-15 count.
Behind a mixed bag of offense and special teams from the back line, the Lady Lions (8-1) were once again at the top of their game. Heading the effort was Natalie Adams, who was excellent from the service line with a team-high seven aces, pairing them with three kills. On the attack, both Lindsey Stuck and Averee Palmatier recorded identical efforts to help the cause even more, each tallying six kills and four aces.
Wellsville’s setter, Maddy Parks was busy at the front of the net, handing out a game-high 22 assists.
Stats for the Lady Bobcats (1-7) were not made available to report upon publication. Hinsdale returns to action on the road Monday night with a 6 p.m. first serve at Archbishop Walsh.
As for Wellsville, they will look to continue their incredible hot streak since the beginning of the season with a trip back home to welcome in the Houghton Academy Lady Panthers for a 6 p.m. first serve, next Friday night.
