Monday Roundup: Despite late game-tying marker, Dansville returns favor with quick response to propel past Wellsville; Lady Lions deadlock C-G, Fri/Scio escapes Lima Christian with 1-0 shutout

DANSVILLE — We have come to that time again. The final stretch before Sectional euphoria settles in this upcoming weekend for the next several weeks. The remaining games on every team’s docket, now serving a much more vital purpose than it ever has before, through the course of the season.

For the Lions of Wellsville, it was a Columbus Day Monday afternoon they wanted to take complete advantage of, having won four of their last five games — those wins including tremendous triumphs against Avon, Campbell-Savona and, more recently, a dynamic 4-3 overtime win against Fillmore on the road.

A road trip for the Lions up north was in store, visiting a team currently two spots ahead of them in the Class B standings — the Dansville Mustangs, as their aim for the end of the regular season campaign was centered around climbing higher up the ladder with their momentous headful of steam.

The Mustangs, however, had other plans.

Following a first half fight for possession, the offenses managed to turn the key to their respective ignitions and let loose, with Wellsville and Dansville alternating goals through the first 25 minutes of play. The visitors in white and orange had the latter of the pair to tie the game, but the quick response soon came immediately after, proving to be paramount for the Mustangs in their reclaiming of the advantageous edge once and for all to stymie the Lions with a 2-1 home victory.

After both teams battled through a first half without a goal finding the back of the net, the second half provided a different point of view with the Mustangs breaking a nearly 70-minute scoreless stalemate on a term of offense that began near midfield. The ball would eventually work its way to the near sideline before one more pass up against it was applied.

Following the immediate two-man rush into the Wellsville (6-4-4) zone, a cross was delivered to Ryan Burley, who served as the third attacker entering the zone in the middle of the box, as he held his position, picked up the ball and ripped in straight home to the top shelf with 31:43 left to go, giving the Mustangs a big 1-0 lead to work with.

The advantage was held across the next several minutes until the Lions found their way onto the scoreboard for the first time to make the action even more interesting down the stretch. With less than 15 minutes remaining, a long ball was airmailed on the Dansville net by Kam Dodge standing right on the 30-yard line. With it, the ball took a bounce in front of the Mustangs keeper and redirected off of him to create an available rebound for a streaking Aiden Cowburn to rush towards the doorstep and poke home the game-tying score.

However, not long after the Lions created level playing ground with the Mustangs, the hosts in black and red made it uneven again. With the removal of just 1:48 off the clock, Burley was able to collect an accidental drop pass near the corner of the Wellsville 18 after it was jarred loose from within a crowd of players, booting it home from one side of the Lions net to the other to give Dansville the lead right back.

This time for good, as the Mustangs held the Lions in check for the last 11 minutes to secure a massive victory in Class B action.

Dansville went on to outshoot Wellsville by a 14-7 count, with Gavin Haggerty making 12 saves in between the posts for the Lions.

Coming up Wednesday night, Wellsville is back home to host Senior Night, as they look to bounce back into the win column with a red-hot Genesee Valley/Belfast squad coming to town for a 7 p.m. visit.

GIRLS SOCCER

Wellsville 0, Canisteo-Greenwood 0

CANISTEO — It was not the most ideal of conditions outdoors on Monday, but Wellsville and Canisteo-Greenwood both gave it everything they had in the Canisteo Valley.

The two foes engaged in a game-long match of chess on the pitch, where after 100 complete minutes of play, they were both refrained from navigating onto the scoreboard, as the Lady Lions and Lady Chargers settled on a scoreless deadlock to commence the final week of regular season action.

Stats were not made available to report.

The Lady Lions (5-8-1) are back out on the road tonight for a 7 p.m. visit to Judy Bliven Field in Belmont, meeting red hot Genesee Valley/Belfast.

Friendship/Scio 1, Lima Christian 0

LIMA — Friendship/Scio assembled a 14-shot outburst against host Lima Christian during their Columbus Day road trip to the north. In the midst of those applications, one of them found the back of the net in the early stages of the second half, as Addyson Sekoll served as the game’s difference maker all the way to the final horn, as they put a wrap on a big 1-0 shutout over the Lady Saints.

“I thought the first half, we did a great job winning the ball, but the anticipation on making those runs just wasn’t there,” said Friendship/Scio coach Dillon McFall. “We continued to win the ball, and the girls were really starting to move in the second half to get things going finally. We’ve had some tight games lately, especially with our last one against Fillmore, so it’s nice to finally get out on the good side of things.”

Sekoll’s goal chimed in for Friendship/Scio (5-8-1) with 31:52 remaining in the second half, as she buried home a pass sent along by Emily Lamberson to shatter the scoring against Lima Christian with an advantage they proceeded to never lose, as the defense buckled down and held the opposition in check for the remainder of time ahead.

Friendship/Scio finished with a strong 14-5 advantage in the shots department over the Lady Saints. The five shots faced on goal were all stopped by Avery Lamberson in between the posts, as she picked up the shutout to start the team’s final week of the regular season.

Tonight, Friendship/Scio is back home in Scio, where they will get set to host Andover/Whitesville in a 6 p.m. first kick.