By CHRIS BROOKS, sports director, wellsvillesports.com
SCIO — The Brock Young Tournament in Scio was a soaker to start, but the inclement weather would eventually subside for the sun to peek through the mostly overcast clouds in time for the annual Fall tournament to kick off on Thursday.
On the field first, two long-standing rivals in Cuba-Rushford and Bolivar-Richburg. For one team, a chance to find their rhythm after three tough battles out of the gate. The other? — An opportunity to pave the way towards another tournament crown to begin the season.
The slippery conditions wreaked havoc across all 80 minutes of play, forcing midfield battle all throughout the field. Despite multiple opportunities for each team to cash in, extra time was required as a direct result to determine who was moving on to vie for tournament gold this weekend.
The balance of power between the Rebels and Wolverines was your metaphorical see-saw battle, through and through. In the late stages, that pendulum was shifted in favor of Bolivar-Richburg, with each knock at the door growing louder and louder as time continued to pass. But just over three minutes into the final overtime period separating both teams from a scoreless tie and penalty kicks, a power shift was established.
Finn Ricketts had the distinct privilege of providing it.
During what would be Cuba-Rushford’s final trip into the Bolivar-Richburg zone, the ball was dug free from the corner and then immediately after, shifted to the front of the goal where a leaping Ricketts met it with the most perfect of headers to poke it past David Abdo in between the pipes for the Wolverines, sending the Rebels bench into a craze to capture their very first win of the season and for first-year head coach Rob Wight by a 1-0 count in double overtime.
“I am so proud of the way the boys bounced back after a tough start to the season. We finally looked like we pieced it all together and I hope we can use this to kick start our season,” Wight said. “My back three guys Kaden Bell, Luke Brooks and Brock Stadler did a great job dealing with B-R’s stellar attack. The energy and effort from every guy that stepped on the field is something we can be proud of tonight. I am always impressed with Coach (Mike) Zilker and the program he has built at B-R. To get a win against them, you know you had to earn it.”
A great deal of midfield battling and physical play were showcased all through the opening 40 minutes of play between both squads — elements that have settled in from start to finish. Opportunities were earned, and at the end of it all, none were punched in. Cuba-Rushford (1-2-1) would ultimately finish the period on one of the more positive notes, as they held a ferocious Bolivar-Richburg offense without a single shot on goal while taking four shots themselves.
But the Wolverines began knocking on the door across the second half, seeing two great chances against the Rebels develop. The first being a save that slipped through the hands of Alex Baron in goal to create a second-chance opportunity, and the next coming on the following possession courtesy of Reiss Gaines, who broke away from the Cuba-Rushford defense for a wide-open shot that sailed just high and over the crossbar.
The heat continued to rise in the final minute of regulation with the Wolverines earning back-to-back corner kicks — their 10th and 11th of the game, with the first earning prime position in the midst of a scrum out front of the Rebels cage. But nothing further would develop.
Cuba-Rushford would cool off Bolivar-Richburg slightly with their first massive opportunity 2:30 removed from the opening kick, as Robert Childs picked up possession on a launch downfield, breaking away from the Wolverines defense for a shot that hit David Abdo square in the chest for the save and cover to force play back the other direction.
With momentum sitting squarely with the team in white and blue, it was used to its fullest of advantages one last time in double overtime, when Finn Ricketts was at the right place and at the right time for a cross directed to him from the far corner by Braxton Clark, who initially pried the ball free from the Wolverines defense to deny the clear. With it, Ricketts found the perfect position in front to place his head on the ball to drive it past Abdo and into the far right corner of the net to help Cuba-Rushford seal a massive first victory of the season.
Cuba-Rushford outshot Bolivar-Richburg by a narrow 8-5 count when it was all said and done, with Baron collecting the five-save shutout in net for the Rebels. Abdo would finish his tenure of defense with seven saves for the Wolverines.
With game one now in the books, the time to determine who each team would face in Saturday’s conclusion of the tournament would come.
In the nightcap, it was a fast and furious start keyed by Andover/Whitesville-Jasper-Troupsburg that helped set the tone right away against host Friendship/Scio, as they filled in the last spot in the Championship game with a strong 10-0 victory after the game was called partway into the second half, due to torrential downpours.
Brody Vance helped Andover/Whitesville-Jasper-Troupsburg (1-1) get the first half scoring initiated with four big helpers before scoring on one of his own later to complete what was a seven-point night on offense. Leading the scoring was Robert Bradley, who posted a hat trick, while Ronaldo Vasquez (two assists) and Carter Grice each scored two goals.
Derek Perkins recorded a penalty kick score along the way, while Ethan Warriner added a score. In goal, Skyler Orpet made five saves to record the shutout over Friendship/Scio (0-3).
On Saturday, the Brock Young Memorial Tournament will conclude with the Consolation game between Bolivar-Richburg and Friendship/Scio kicking off with a 5 p.m. start, while the title game takes center stage immediately following at 7 p.m. with Cuba-Rushford and Andover/Whitesville-Jasper-Troupsburg vying for this year’s prize.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 1, Houghton Academy 0
BELMONT — Looking to rebound after a tournament title defeat to the hands of Bolivar-Richburg last week, Genesee Valley/Belfast looked to get back on the right side of the tracks to help close out the week on Thursday.
They were challenged from start to finish by the Houghton Academy Panthers, who also provided a strong showing during their tournament time in Belfast. When the two collided for their first battle, scoring was going to be a rarity.
But when it mattered most, the hosts in black and gray made sure they provided the punctuation in the first half. Ian McKenzie was responsible for that, as he scored the game’s lone goal during the first half of action to break the ice. With the lead, Genesee Valley/Belfast would lean on their defense to get the job done in the second half, despite some heavy traffic in the midfield from the Panthers, securing the 1-0 shutout at Judy Bliven Field in Belmont.
“We played really well in the first half. The score should have been more than it indicated, but we missed opportunities,” said GV/Belfast coach Mark Sullivan. “We had eight corner kicks, and we couldn’t score on any of them. Houghton dictated play in the midfield, but the fullbacks played tough to keep them off the board. A win is a win though, and we did some good things while we worked through some kinks that we still have to work out.”
McKenzie’s goal for Genesee Valley/Belfast (2-1) arrived at the 27 minute mark of the opening half, as he connected with Sean Mahon on the marker to break the ice. From that point forward, it would become a midfield battle between both teams until they reached the finish line.
The Panthers kept the hosts on their feet for much of the second half with strong midfield play, but the Genesee Valley/Belfast defense managed to hold down the fort for victory.
Genesee Valley/Belfast outshot Houghton Academy by an 11-5 count, with Kyle McCumiskey making all five saves for the shutout. On the other end, Marco Zanini made 10 saves for the Panthers (0-2-1).
Both teams will return to the field after the weekend, as Genesee Valley/Belfast prepares to host Bolivar-Richburg back at the Rich Sullivan Complex in Belfast at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, while Houghton Academy heads back home to welcome in Alfred-Almond for a 5 p.m. first kick.
FIllmore boys soccer beats Scio-Friendship, 14-0
FILLMORE — The first night back out on the pitch can be a nerve-racking feeling for some. But for the Fillmore Eagles, the defending Class D New York State Champions, it’s a chance to pick up where they left off from that magical season from a year ago.
With no hesitation, the Eagles did just that and then some, seeing 11 different registrations on the attack, using a fast first half to set the tone against visiting Friendship/Scio to score 14-0 season-opening victory in front of their home crowd, Tuesday night under the lights.
“I couldn’t ask for a better start to our season. We played great possession soccer and we were firing on all cylinders right from the start,” said Eagles coach Jarrett Vosburg. “I was happy with how balanced our offense was with 11 different goal scorers and nine different people adding assists. The defense and our keepers, Brayden Hennard and Ryan Vedder combined for their first shutouts of the year. Hats off to Friendship/Scio for never quitting, even under difficult circumstances.”
The Eagles (1-0) scored a fast 8-0 lead through the opening half, with the first three goals coming in a six minute span to take their first big step out in front. Amongst the goalscorers for the hosts in green, was Eben Schilke, who recorded a hat trick. Henry Sardina recorded two goals to go with two assists. Jack Cool tallied a goal and two helpers, while Zach Sisson, Layton Sanasith, Nolan Krzeminski, James Hillman and Noah Strickland all scored and recorded an assist.
Adding points for Fillmore were Jude Beardsley, Joe Sadler and Isaiah Sisson, all with a goal each, along with Alex Hatch and Sam Cool, who each dished out a helper. In goal, Brayden Hennard and Ryan Vedder combined for the one-save shutout.
Friendship/Scio (0-2) saw Cooper Greenman make 12 saves in net.
The Eagles will have a quick turnaround tonight in Hinsdale, as they battle Cuba-Rushford/Hinsdale in a 7 p.m. first kick, while Friendship/Scio prepares to host the Brock Young Tournament in Scio beginning on Thursday, with a first round matchup against Andover/Whitesville at 7 p.m.
Fillmore 7, Cuba-Rushford 0
HINSDALE — With a big season-opening victory on their home turf just 24 hours ago, the defending Class D State Champions took aim at continuing their hot start over the road to Hinsdale to meet Cuba-Rushford/Hinsdale on Wednesday.
After seeing a bounty of Eagles find the back of the net, the night this time would belong to Layton Sanasith on the attack, as the senior posted four of the team’s seven markers — three of them coming in the first half to complete the early hat trick, allowing the visitors in white and green to cement their lead over the Rebels in strong fashion to move to 2-0 with a 7-0 road shutout.
The scoring for Fillmore (2-0) started fast and furiously in the first 10 minutes of the opening frame, as Sanasith connected with his first marker off a helper dished along by Jack Cool. The next three plays for the Eagles were all set up by the foot of Eben Schilke, who helped lay the foundation down on his four-assist night with a connection to Henry Sardina at the 23:09 mark, along with two more to Sanasith in the final 10 minutes to aid in completing his early hat trick in a span of three minutes.
With a firm 4-0 lead at the break, Schilke went on to find the back of the Cuba-Rushford/Hinsdale (0-2-1) net himself six minutes removed from the kick at center, as Zach Sisson sent along a helper of his own to branch out the Fillmore lead once more. Sanasith’s fourth goal off of Schilke’s fourth assist from the corner, along with an unassisted marker from Isaiah Sisson helped finish off the scoring for the Eagles.
In all, a 21-4 shot advantage favored the Eagles over the Rebels, with Ryan Vedder making all four stops for the visitors in goal to earn the shutout. On the other side, Alex Baron and Caleb Elliott combined to make 13 saves for Cuba-Rushford/Hinsdale, who will now travel to the Brock Young Tournament in Scio to face Bolivar-Richburg in opening round battle tonight at 5 p.m.
As for Fillmore, they now head back home to welcome in the Lions of Wellsville after the upcoming weekend, in a 7 p.m. opening kick on Monday.
