Tuesday Roundup: Brilliant start helps Lady Sea Lions shine in home opener against visiting Hornell; B-R claims 6th straight win behind Pinney’s game-winner in double OT at Wellsville

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WELLSVILLE — It was originally supposed to be a road trip to Hornell on Tuesday. But due to unforeseen circumstances regarding the pool in the Maple City, the Lady Lions of Wellsville would wind up hosting their home opener one week early against the Lady Red Raiders.

And what a successful home debut for the back-to-back Section V champions it was, as they recorded victories in the first seven events to set the tone right away, rolling towards an eventual 71-38 win.

“For the second meet of the year, the girls are swimming well. With the loss of five seniors, we’re still working on where the girls will swim the best at the year-end meets,” said Lady Sea Lions coach Steve Hand. “Tonight, girls moved around to swim some different events, and they responded well to that challenge. The girls scored good points while posting some fast times as well. We’re still looking for the right combinations in relays, but we’re hoping to get everyone even faster in the next few meets.”

Six different Lady Sea Lions (2-0) all posted victories in the water to pair with their lone 200 medley relay triumph to begin the meet, as the team of Grace Kinnicutt, Hayden Waldon, Tiernee Brandes and Morgan Mattison collaborated on a winning 2:10.85 time.

The four swimmers were amongst the individual winners for the hosts, with Kinnicutt medaling in the 100 freestyle, Waldon in the 200 individual medley relay, Brandes in the 50 freestyle and Mattison in the 100 butterfly. The Oswald siblings — Kaylee and Ashley would round off the medaling performances for the Lady Sea Lions, with Kaylee placing first in the 200 freestyle, and Ashley grabbing the winning score off the Diving board.

Hornell would grab just three wins in the water, all in the back half of the meet, with Evelyn Striker and Cecilia Wall coming away winners in the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke, respectively. The Lady Red Raiders would also garner a winning time in the 200 freestyle relay along the way.

Wellsville will now take aim at a 3-0 start when they hit the road Thursday night for a 5:45 p.m. first swim in Olean, as they take on the host Lady Huskies.

Team Scores: Wellsville 71, Hornell 38.

200 Medley – 1. Wellsville (Kinnicutt, Waldon, Brandes, Mattison) 2:10.85, 2. Wellsville.

200 Free – 1. Kaylee Oswald (WLSV) 2:23.22, 2. Emily Budinger (WLSV), 3. Sara McCormick (WLSV).

200 IMR – 1. Hayden Waldon (WLSV) 2:24.62, 2. Allie Bidzerkowny (WLSV), 3. Cecilia Wall (HHS).

50 Free – 1. Tiernee Brandes (WLSV) 28.51, 2. Kennedy Ewing (WLSV), 3. Margaret Hall (HHS).

Diving – 1. Ashley Oswald (WLSV) 161.17.

100 Fly – 1. Morgan Mattison (WLSV) 1:10.26.

100 Free – 1. Grace Kinnicutt (WLSV) 1:00.72, 2. Sara McCormick (WLSV), 3. Gabby Passero (HHS).

200 Relay – 1. Hornell (Chace, Hall, Briggs, Passero) 2:23.81.

100 Back – 1. Evelyn Striker (HHS) 1:20.54, 2. Margaret Hall (HHS).

100 Breaststroke – 1. Cecilia Wall (HHS) 1:30.03.

BOYS SOCCER

Bolivar-Richburg 1, Wellsville 0 (F-OT)

WELLSVILLE — One team was looking to get on the right side of the tracks, while the other was looking to keep their five-alarm fire ablaze. It was safe to say that the battle inside the Lion’s Den on Tuesday was a big one for the taking.

The host Lions and visiting Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg laid it all on the line throughout the rain on the turf. Even if it had to take some extra time for the fog to clear the air. In all, over 90 minutes and change ticked by on the scoreboard without either team finding the back of the net.

That was until Evan Pinney put that to rest.

The Bolivar-Richburg senior was at the right place, and at the exact moment in time to knock home the game-winning goal, eyeing a corralling ball across the front of the Wellsville cage and over towards the near post, where he would ultimately put just enough of a touch on the ball to send it past Logan Dunbar in goal to call game. That would give the Wolverines their sixth straight win to open the season, as they survive one whale of a fight with the Lions with a 1-0 double-overtime victory.

“This was a tough game. Both teams played their hardest and had their chances,” said Wolverines coach Mike Zilker. “It was hard-fought, and fortunately we were able to come out on the winning side. Our goal David (Abdo) played hard, and the defense in front of him played even harder. Our mids, our strikers, it was a great win behind a complete team effort. Now, we prepare for the next one.”

The golden goal for the Wolverines (6-0) came right at the halfway point of double overtime. After what was a midfield battle all throughout the game, the opening was created by Ian Unfus down the right endline and into the Wellsville zone. A pass was shifted along to the front of the goal, finding Aydin Sisson, who then pirouetted around a Lions defender in front to drop off the ball for Pinney on his left.

With no hesitation, the ball would hit a tumbling Lions defender on the way into the goal with 5:01 remaining, giving Bolivar-Richburg a hard-fought victory — one they would see for a sixth straight game to continue their remarkable start to their 2022 campaign.

Like the score on the board for much of the battle, Bolivar-Richburg and Wellsville (2-4) were in a dead heat all across the field, nearly coming away even in the shot department. The Wolverines would wind up taking that narrow edge by an 11-9 count, with David Abdo making all nine of those saves to record the shutout for the visitors in white and red.

On the other end, Logan Dunbar made 10 stops for the Lions, who are now off until Saturday morning for a 10 a.m. first kick with the Cuba-Rushford Rebels on the road.

The Wolverines will have the same Rebels team next on their schedule coming up on Thursday, heading over the road themselves where they will try and go for seven in a row, in a 5 p.m. contest of their own.

Friendship/Scio 6, Cuba-Rushford 4

CUBA — As for the Rebels, they have been a very, very busy team as of late. Tuesday marked their fifth game in the last six days, with their battle against Friendship/Scio serving as their home opener. With the end of their game-stand in sight, it wouldn’t go without some high level intensity to help close it out.

Between the two clubs, they would combine for 10 goals worth of offense, with Friendship/Scio getting on the board first before Cuba-Rushford knocked the early deficit down. Then a complete powershift would occur, as the visitors would streak away towards the goal four consecutive times to take a 6-1 lead that they held onto until the end to capture their first win of the season by a 6-4 count, despite a late push by the Rebels.

“It’s been a tough stretch of games for us, and it really showed today,” said Rebels coach Nick Perillo. “It was our fifth game in six days, and it was our first home game. We came out flat and Friendship/Scio came out flying and ready to play. They scored a couple early before we were able to knock it down, and just as I thought we were getting momentum, they came out with four more in a row. We tried to make a comeback out of it later, but it was too much.”

Friendship/Scio (1-3) came right out of the gates fast to start the day, as they took a 2-0 edge with help from Jordan White and Max Morris. But the Rebels were able to cut down the deficit just as fast a little later on, as Jacob Smith used his heads-up finesse to intercept the ball from the opposing offense, sprinting in towards goal to deliver the first punch for the hosts.

Down by one, that would be as close as Cuba-Rushford would get to the driver’s seat.

Friendship/Scio erased all momentum the Rebels (3-3) were trying to build, as they went on an offensive tear with four straight goals, including a hat trick from Jerome Harmon, and a second goal from Morris to round off the scoring with a heavy 6-1 lead in hand to control. Cuba-Rushford would try to make up lost ground quickly to apply some late pressure on the visitors, as they went on to score the game’s final three tallies beginning with a Will Adams penalty kick with 10 minutes left to play.

Preston Bilotta would sink an absolute dart from the far corner into the Friendship/Scio goal to continue chipping away before Smith tallied his second for the Rebels, ringing in with two minutes left to play. But time would run out on the late comeback by the hosts, as Friendship/Scio held on to deliver their first win of the season.

A combined 32 shots on goal were gathered between both clubs across the 80 minute contest, with Friendship/Scio winning the offensive battle by a 20-12 count. The win was credited to Landon Arnold in between the posts, as he put a stop on eight saves for his first of the season. On the other end, Jack Frank and Adam Shaffer combined to record 14 saves for the Rebels.

Both teams are back on the field Thursday night in a pair of 5 p.m. contests, with Friendship/Scio now heading out to visit Houghton Academy, while Cuba-Rushford stands pat at home to host red hot Bolivar-Richburg, winners of six straight.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Wellsville 3, Houghton Academy 0

HOUGHTON — After hitting the road this past weekend for some tournament action at Campbell-Savona, the Lady Lions of Wellsville resumed regular season play out on the road for the first time on the young season, Tuesday evening, with their first stop being a visit to Class D3 Finalist Houghton Academy.

By the end of the night, it would prove to be worth the trip, as the Lady Lions started off strong and never looked back on what turned out to be a straight-set victory over the host Lady Panthers, scoring the 25-15, 25-17, 25-15 triumph.

The Lady Lions (2-0) were paced by a strong night of offense from Natalie Adams, tallying a team-high five kills to pair with three aces from the service line. Chipping in was Bryanna Moultrup, who had three more kills and three additional aces, while Averee Palmatier dished out six assists to pair with five aces of her own.

Jessica Prentice would lead the offensive attack for the Lady Panthers (0-2), garnering a game-high 13 kills to pair with six aces. Houghton Academy is back on the court Thursday night with a 6 p.m. road trip to Fillmore for a rematch of last year’s Class D3 Finals.

Wellsville is back on the floor Friday night back home, as they welcome in the Lady Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg for a 7:30 p.m. first serve.

Bolivar-Richburg 3, Genesee Valley/Belfast 0

BOLIVAR — A dominating start to their game was what the Lady Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg built right from the opening serve on Tuesday, setting the tone against visiting Genesee Valley/Belfast en route towards a straight-set victory by a 25-7, 25-11, 25-15 decision.

The Lady Wolverines (2-1) were propelled by a hot night of service from Haley Mascho, and on offense from Kori Thomas. Mascho fueled the efforts behind a 17-dig, 11-ace night, while Thomas recorded a team-high seven kills to pair with 13 digs on defense and two aces of her own from the service line. Setter Willow Worth handed out 15 assists at the front of the net.

“We had to change some things up on the fly right before the game, but I am so proud of how the girls were able to come together, and persevere through it. They showed a tremendous amount of teamwork all throughout the game,” said Lady Wolverines coach Demi Elliott.

Genesee Valley/Belfast (0-4) was led by Raygen Haggstrom, who tallied three kills and one ace. Cassidy Hand had three assists to go along with two kills and two blocks. The team will return to action on Thursday back on their home floor, when they welcome in Hinsdale for a 7:30 p.m. first serve.

Bolivar-Richburg now hits the road for their next battle on Friday, as they pay a visit to the Wellsville Lady Lions for a 7:30 p.m. contest of their own.