Tuesday Roundup: Behind 11 wins, Sea Lions open up home slate with dynamic 100-78 win over Bath-Haverling; Lady Eagles net 3 unanswered goals to go past Wellsville, Lady Lions volleyball sweeps
Photos and stories by CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com
WELLSVILLE — The home waters patiently awaited the arrival of the four-peat Section V champion Sea Lions of Wellsville.
That time finally came on Tuesday, when they opened their home slate of meets in style against visiting Bath-Haverling, as they collected a first place finish in almost every event on the docket to ignite the torch on what was a 100-78 victory over the Lady Rams.
“The girls stepped up and got a win tonight. With a smaller team, it can be difficult to move girls into different events and expect the same results. But they are doing a great job at achieving better times and winning results,” said Sea Lions coach Steve Hand. “Kaylee (Oswald) had a smooth 200 and got us some key points off the diving board, Morgan (Mattison) and Reegan (Perkins) both swam well tonight, Lily (Miller) earned a Sectional cut in the 100 free with a nice win. Ella Green made her Sectional cut a little faster in the 100 breast.”
The Sea Lions (2-0-1) saw Kaylee Oswald, Reegan Perkins and Morgan Mattison all score two individual wins to lead the way. Oswald recorded both of her victories in the first half of the meet, placing first in the 200 freestyle and off the diving board following a dynamic performance.
Perkins chipped in her two victories in the 200 individual medley and later on, in the 500 freestyle, while Mattison recorded triumphant performances in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly.
Adding more help along the way were Lily Miller and Ella Green, as they rounded off with the last two individual wins for Wellsville, with Miller placing first in the 100 freestyle, and Green in the 100 breaststroke.
The Lady Lions capped off a near-perfect performance with three more wins coming in a complete sweep of all three relay events — the 200 medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays.
The Sea Lions will hop back into the pool over the road once again Thursday night, visiting Wayland-Cohocton at 5 p.m.
Team Scores: Wellsville 100, Bath-Haverling 78.
200 Medley – 1. Wellsville (Outman, Green, Mattison, Perkins) 2:20.5, 2. Bath-Haverling, 3. Bath-Haverling.
200 Free – 1. Kaylee Oswald (WLSV) 2:20.6, 2. Averie Morse (B-H), 3. Megan Vanetten (WLSV).
200 IMR – 1. Reegan Perkins (WLSV) 2:46.7, 2. Ava Martin-Putman (B-H), 3. Lily Miller (WLSV).
50 Free – 1. Morgan Mattison (WLSV) 26.8, 2. Kacey Sebastian (B-H), 3. Kenadee Walden (B-H).
Diving – 1. Kaylee Oswald (WLSV) 150.0, 2. Chloe Prusha (B-H).
100 Fly – 1. Morgan Mattison (WLSV) 1:14.2, 2. Isabelle Folckemer (B-H), 3. Makenna Cooke (WLSV).
100 Free – 1. Lily Miller (WLSV) 1:09.8, 2. Ella Green (WLSV), 3. Isabella Roche (B-H).
500 Free – 1. Reegan Perkins (WLSV) 6:38.1, 2. Averie Morse (B-H), 3. Megan Vanetten (WLSV).
200 Relay – 1. Wellsville (Green, Miller, Vanetten, K. Oswald) 2:02.4, 2. Bath-Haverling, 3. Bath-Haverling.
100 Back – 1. Ava Martin-Putman (B-H) 1:19.8, 2. Jasmine Outman (WLSV), 3. Kenadee Walden (B-H).
100 Breaststroke – 1. Ella Green (WLSV) 1:30.6, 2. Kacey Sebastian (B-H), 3. Kendall Bauer (B-H).
400 Free – 1. Wellsville (Mattison, Vanetten, Perkins, K. Oswald) 4:24.7, 2. Bath-Haverling, 3. Wellsville.
More stories after Chris Brooks photo gallery:
GIRLS SOCCER
Fillmore 3, Wellsville 1
WELLSVILLE — Following an incredible comeback against Genesee Valley/Belfast entering this past weekend, the Fillmore Lady Eagles were looking to place another building block on top of that come Tuesday night, where their next visit took them further south in Allegany County, to Wellsville.
As for the Lady Lions, they have been in contention every single game thus far. It was no different pinned up against the Lady Eagles, where they were able to score an early first half lead against the defending Class D New York State Finalists.
The hosts in black and orange did everything in their power to stay out in front, but the visitors in white and green became relentless. The response that Fillmore provided was multiplied by three in consecutive fashion, including two massive goals deep in the second half to fully tilt the momentum in their favor, keeping Wellsville at bay to score a fourth straight win to open their 2024 campaign behind a 3-1 road win in the Lion’s Den.
Before the Lady Eagles cashed in on their turning of the tide in the second half, the Lady Lions (3-3) were the first to reach the board just over midway in the opening half. Following a brief carry up field, possession was picked up by Caelyn Stevens, as she turned her speed loose against the defense in front to set up Jaden Dunbar on the run.
Dunbar then noticed the pursuit of Ayla Faulkner off to her far right side, finishing off a tic-tac-toe-esque play with one final pass, as Faulkner scored the team’s lone goal to the near post with 17:41 remaining until the break.
But the newly-found advantage would not last long for the Lady Lions, as Fillmore (4-0) came right back with a furious haymaker just four minutes and change later.
Stemming off a direct kick from the 40-yard line, the ball was overplayed by the Lady Lions defense, which allowed Emalyn Mucher to give chase to the loose ball. Upon gaining possession, Mucher then shifted a pass directly off to her right for Tenlee Miller next to the near post, one-timing her shot home to tie the game at one.
The deadlock remained glued together through a good chunk of time in the second half until the Lady Eagles propelled ahead into the lead for the first time behind Kallie Pastorius’ score, as she delivered a massive boot from the near corner against the Wellsville defense, where it was met with a fortuitous redirection by the Lady Lions in front of their net. That score came with 25:53 remaining in regulation.
To ensure their lead remained completely intact, Miller found the back of the net for a second time with 6:07 left to play, breaking away from the Wellsville defense after a deep boot down the field from Mattie McCumiskey.
Grace Clark went on to score the victory in between the posts for Fillmore, making nine saves.
The Lady Eagles will search for their fifth straight win Thursday night in their latest road trip, visiting Friendship/Scio in a 5 p.m. opening kick in Friendship, while the Lady Lions hit the road themselves for a 7 p.m. contest at Canisteo-Greenwood, Saturday night.
Cuba-Rushford 2, Friendship/Scio 0
FRIENDSHIP — The Cloey Larabee and Jen Tuttle connection was an absolutely powerful one for the Lady Rebels of Cuba-Rushford on Tuesday.
In their latest road trip to Friendship, the two Lady Rebels became difference makers across all 80 minutes of play, as they accounted for both of the team’s goals — one in each half, locking down what ultimately became a 2-0 shutout of host Friendship/Scio.
“We did some good stuff tonight. Cuba is a pretty good team, and we bent a little bit, but we didn’t give them too much,” said Friendship/Scio coach Dillon McFall. “I got to give them credit where it’s due. Those girls are playing the game the right way, and Aaron (Wight) is doing a great job with getting them prepared. We came in with a defensive gameplan, and they had a good majority of the play. The Larabee girl, if you give her space, she will hurt you. We gave them a little too much space, and that was it. Our girls deserve some credit too, especially our back four. They played very well for what probably was our best game of the season.”
Tuttle was responsible for finding the back of the net both times for the Lady Rebels (4-0-1), being awarded the first pass from Larabee just past midway in the first half to break the ice with a 1-0 lead. From that point until the homestretch of the second half, the visitors in white and blue kept mounting the pressure up against Friendship/Scio, accumulating 18 total shots on goal.
When it was all said and done back the other way, the defense provided a stellar outing in return, holding Friendship/Scio (2-3) to just a pair of shots — both of which set aside by Annaleece Melton to record the shutout. Melton, has a 0.95 goals against average, tops in the county, with 32 saves on the season.
The victory was locked up with 12:19 left to play in the contest when Tuttle capitalized on her second of the game off another pass from Larabee on the rush.
For the hosts in black and gold, Avery Lamberson made 16 saves in between the posts. Friendship/Scio will stay put at home to welcome in Fillmore for a 5 p.m. contest in Friendship on Thursday.
Cuba-Rushford will look to keep their red hot start going back home in Hinsdale come Friday night, hosting Andover/Whitesville at 5 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Wellsville 3, Cuba-Rushford 0
WELLSVILLE — The first home match of the season for the Wellsville Lady Lions was one that received a strong challenge from Cuba-Rushford, Tuesday night.
After a first set that saw the visiting Lady Rebels fight back after an early deficit turned into a back-and-forth finish, it was one that the Lady Lions managed to escape from at the end, as they utilized the victory in full force across the next two sets of play to continue holding all the momentum in their favor to complete a straight-set win by a 25-23, 25-17, 25-20 count.
Wellsville (2-2) saw several different contributors all have the chance to fuel the team’s fire on the court, with Lindsay Stuck and her nine kills, six aces and three digs guiding the way. Natalie Adams scored four aces to go with three more kills. Makenna Dunbar also had four aces to pitch in with a pair of blocks at the net, while Averee Palmatier gathered five digs and four kills. Setter Lexi Irish handed out 18 assists.
On the other side of the net, Cuba-Rushford (1-3) was paced by Kate Radomski and her six team-high kills, coupling them with three aces and a pair of digs. Setter Kendall Tompkins dished out seven helpers to go with seven digs and a duo of aces from the back line.
Both teams have a quick turnaround this evening, with the Lady Lions traveling to Andover/Whitesville for a 7:30 p.m. contest, while the Lady Rebels head back home to welcome in Hinsdale in a 6 p.m. first serve.
Houghton Academy 3, Rochester SOTD 0
HOUGHTON — Right in the first set, the Lady Panthers of Houghton Academy were taken into extra serves against the Rochester School for the Deaf on Tuesday, but they would find their way back and take the close edge for the match’s first lead.
The momentum that they syphoned from that set was put to good use going forward, as Houghton Academy set up shop for what was a straight-set sweep, as they finished the early evening on the strongest of notes by recording the 28-26, 25-21, 25-14 victory — their first of the young campaign.
The Lady Panthers (1-2) propelled their ascension to victory behind an overwhelmingly strong night from Julia Winkens, who was a perfect 100% from the service line to aid the offense, along with eight kills. On defense, Abigail Reitnour kept the ball off the floor behind a dozen digs, while Katherine Lin chipped in five kills and five aces.
Houghton Academy is back on their home floor tonight with a 6:30 p.m. visit from Genesee Valley/Belfast.
Hammondsport 3, Andover/Whitesville 0
ANDOVER — The Lady Lakers of Hammondsport controlled each and every step of Tuesday night’s contest over the road, as they took care of business with a 3-0 straight-set defeat of host Andover/Whitesville.
Set scores and individual statistics for Andover/Whitesville (0-3) were not made available to report upon publication.
Andover/Whitesville is back on their home court tonight with a 7:30 p.m. contest against the Wellsville Lady Lions.