Monday Roundup: Russell nets game-winning goal for Lady Eagles in 1-0 blanking of host Gananda; Lions fall in 6-0 shutout at Bath-Haverling

WALWORTH — In perhaps their biggest game of the season with Sectionals right around the corner, the undefeated Lady Eagles of Fillmore had to do one thing in order to keep succeeding — raise their game to the highest possible, as they took one of Class C’s best in the Lady Blue Panthers of Gananda.

All night long, the Lady Eagles and Lady Blue Panthers waged war across the midfield, doing everything possible to build momentum. Up and down the field, it was an even playing surface. But in the late stages of the second half, the most golden of opportunities presented itself.

Hope Russell was there to capitalize.

The Fillmore sophomore, as well as the team’s leading scorer, broke away from the Gananda defense all alone on goal, taking the chance and absolutely burying it to the right side of the goalkeeper to break what was a game-long scoreless deadlock between the two 10-win teams while the defense made sure the hosts stayed off the board, as the Lady Eagles secured a massive 1-0 shutout, their fourth straight, over the road to remain unbeaten with their 14th straight triumph on Monday.

“The girls had to go to a whole other level tonight to pull this one out,” Lady Eagles coach Jon Beardsley said. “Gananda is a very good C school. It was a long ride and great competition to face. We had to chance our approach quite a bit, and the girls transitioned. Our defense and keeper got a workout, and were outstanding. They kept us in it, and then our offense kept at it and finally came through. It was an end-to-end game that saw two good teams go toe-to-toe. It’s the game we wanted and needed before Sectionals. The win is just a bonus.”

The Lady Eagles (14-0) after over 70 minutes of battling through the midfield alongside Gananda, finally managed to create a massive crack in the ice to separate themselves from the Lady Blue Panthers permanently with 6:37 left to play in the second half. It was all set up by Zoe Beardsley right near midfield, and her boot lofted a pass straight in front of Russell against a pair of defenders on the way in.

Russell shook both Lady Blue Panthers off her trail and delivered the big strike to the right side of the cage to essentially put the game on ice. Gananda, just a couple of minutes after the goal, perhaps earned their biggest chance to tie the game up with just over four minutes remaining in regulation.

The hosts pushed the tempo back into the Fillmore zone and with it, came a shot on goal which saw Preslee Miller come out to challenge. The shot landed in the middle of a scrum that began with Miller colliding with a Lady Blue Panther in front in a battle for the ball. Another attempt was put on the empty cage, but a heads-up play from Rachel Hatch racing in from the right wing saw the Lady Eagles push the possession back out and away.

When it was all said and done, Gananda outshot the Lady Eagles by a narrow 12-9 margin, but Miller made all 12 stops in between the posts for the visitors in white and green to secure her biggest shutout of the season.

The Lady Eagles will wrap up their regular season in the coming days, starting Wednesday and ending the next day on Thursday, as they return home to host Bolivar-Richburg in a 7 p.m. battle before heading out to Wellsville to close up shop 24 hours later in a 5 p.m. first kick in the Lion’s Den.

BOYS SOCCER

Bath-Haverling 6, Wellsville 0

BATH — Keefer Calkins recorded a massive night for the unbeaten and State-ranked Bath-Haverling Rams on Monday, playing a role in all five of the team’s first half goals to put the hammer down almost immediately against visiting Wellsville, rolling toward an eventual 6-0 blank on their home field.

Calkins finished the evening for the Rams behind two goals and three assists to help set up shot for a 23-shot effort on offense for the hosts in blue and white. On defense, the Lions (4-9-1) recorded just two shots across 80 minutes of play.

In goal, Logan Dunbar put a stop to 17 shots for Wellsville.

The Lions will hit the road for their final road regular season contest on Wednesday, as they visit the Rebels of Cuba-Rushford in a 5 p.m. first kick.