Fillmore’s Voss makes commitment to Huntington University; GV’s Schneider verbally commits to Mansfield

Monday morning, another commitment letter was signed in Allegany County, as Fillmore’s senior goalkeeper Riley Voss made her official commitment to Huntington University in Indiana alongside her parents, Noah and Jen to continue her athletic career on the soccer field. She is joined by, from left to right, former Houghton College women’s soccer coach, and current Huntington University coach David Lewis, Northwest Wave coach Venn Blakely, and Fillmore varsity girls soccer coach Jon Beardsley. [PHOTO PROVIDED]

FILLMORE — In recent years, the Fillmore Lady Eagles have become the cream of the crop when it comes to taking the soccer field, day in and day out.

If you rewind the tape back five seasons, the program has made at least the Section V, Class D1 semifinals stage four straight seasons. They managed to finally climb over the Semifinal hurdle last season, and then this past season, with the latter of which being the biggest in the program’s recent memory — their first Class D1 championship in 20 years with a 3-0 shutout of defending Class D State Champion Kendall.

None of their recent success would have been possible it if wasn’t for their strong defensive mindset, and a brilliant goalkeeper behind them that has been in between the pipes each step of the way. Monday morning, Fillmore senior Riley Voss knew that soccer was in her future, as she sat alongside her parents, Noah and Jen to officially make her commitment to NAIA’s Huntington University in Indiana, where she will continue her top sport, this time on the collegiate level.

With Fillmore’s season coming to a halt in the Class D State Qualifier match against eventual State Finalist Avoca, so did Voss’ Lady Eagles career, finishing with 38 shutouts in between the posts along with a miniscule goals against average of 0.4. Of those 38 career shutouts, Voss recorded an Allegany County-leading 14 this season, including a shutout sweep through the Section V playoffs against Jasper-Troupsburg, Arkport/Canaseraga, and then the team’s monumental victory against Kendall in the Finals to win the coveted championship brick.

Behind her dominance, the Lady Eagles were able to secure a fifth straight Allegany County League championship, allowing only a half-dozen goals in 20 games to help the team finish a remarkable 2019 campaign with an 18-1-1 record. When it was all said and done, she compiled an astonishing career record of 51-4-2.

Her longtime coach, Jon Beardsley, says Voss will most certainly go down as one of Fillmore’s greats on the field.

“Riley will leave Fillmore as one of the most decorated keepers in Fillmore school history,” he said. “She’s a three-year starter that will be very hard to replace. On and off the field, Riley is a first rate young lady. She is a very good athlete, and most importantly, an even better person.”

Now, she will join the ranks of former-Houghton College women’s soccer head coach, the legendary David Lewis in Indiana, where he is set to begin his first season with the Lady Foresters. Lewis had spent the last 28 seasons at the helm of the Lady Highlanders program, compiling a career record of 402-122-39. He is just one of 25 women’s college coaches across all divisions of the NAIA, and NCAA to reach the historic 400-win marker. Along with it, came deep postseason runs, making 12 trips in all to the NAIA National Championships, nine of those years right in a row from 2003 to 2011, reaching the Elite Eight in back-to-back seasons, in 2005 and 2006.

As for his newest addition to the Lady Foresters roster, Lewis is very excited to welcome Voss.

“We are excited to welcome Riley to Huntington University,” he said. “She fits the character of the type of players we are looking for, and the mission we represent. She comes from a strong winning tradition at Fillmore, as well as her club ball with the Northwest Wave. I anticipate that she will adjust nicely to the college game.”

Over the weekend, another commitment was made by an Allegany County student-athlete, as Genesee Valley standout senior Cody Schneider officially made a verbal commitment to continue his baseball career at Mansfield University.

We’ll have more information about his commitment as soon as we receive it!