Tuesday Roundup: Lions turn up heat in 2nd half, but GV/Belfast fends off late push to stay unbeaten with 3-2 win; Lady Rebels remain ablaze, deliver 2-0 blank of Honeoye to push towards 6-0-1 start
BELMONT — No advantage across any realm of competition is ever safe.
Tuesday’s game at Judy Bliven Field in Belmont was direct evidence of that, when Genesee Valley/Belfast had the majority of control over visiting Wellsville. But down the stretch, the activity on the playing surface began to ramp up, as the Lions found a way to close the gap down to a single goal.
With the pressure mounting more and more against the hosts amidst the soggy conditions on the grass, they continued to keep bending. But in the end, they never broke, as they managed to hold on for dear life while vacating Wellsville’s late comeback bid, remaining undefeated in regulation play in the same swing with what was a 3-2 victory.
“I thought we played well for 60 minutes out of 80. The last 20, Wellsville owned us,” said GV/Belfast coach Mark Sullivan. “The defense, having that 3-0 lead, it was a bit of a meltdown towards the end. It’s something that will happen, and it’s still a learning experience for these guys. Wellsville has a great line, the (Aiden) Cowburn kid is tough in the middle, but my guys created a lot of chances in the first half to help set everything up. It was a great win to have. They continue to work hard and we have some areas to improve on, but they’re like sponges, they’ve soaked up everything and they keep believing in the system of learning to become better.”
Before Wellsville rode their high horse in the waning stages of the second half to jump back into the game, they had to work their way past a first half that was controlled predominantly by Genesee Valley/Belfast (5-0-1), who earned a trio of corner kicks in the first 10 minutes to set up shop immediately. The pressure nearly boiled over several minutes later, after a goal in front was taken off the board following a hand-ball call against the hosts inside the Lions box.
Despite the setback, Genesee Valley/Belfast continued to find chances in any way, shape or form, and because of their efforts, they would manage to fire their engine on offense with 15 minutes remaining. Following a run up the far sideline from Sal Gambino, he would then make a turn to the inside before airlifting an absolutely immaculate cross straight to the far post for a streaking Callahan Tallman to head in past Gavin Haggerty in goal for the Lions (2-2-4), allowing them to remain in firm control going into the break.
The goal-scoring journeyed forward for the hosts in black and gray, as they added two more goals from Will Guilford and Ian McKenzie to claim a 3-0 lead on Wellsville in the second half, with Mason Thomas and Evan Turybury both collecting assists on the scores. With their backs up against the wall down by a trio of goals, the Lions would not give in by any means.
Instead, they turned the tables themselves with a vast amount of pressure in the last 20 minutes, bubbling over with 13 minutes left off the first of two goals set up by Aiden Cowburn, as he shifted off a pass from the corner to Kam Dodge for the score. The deficit came down to just a single goal with 2:21 left to play, as Cowburn delivered a fine through ball upfield to Blake Kalkhof to keep the pressure on.
In the end, Genesee Valley/Belfast was able to keep Wellsville at bay just enough to hang on and remain undefeated in regulation.
The three goals by the hosts stemmed off an 11-shot output against the Lions, as they seized an 11-6 shot advantage overall. In goal, the win belonged to Zach Thomas, who made three saves. Haggerty would go on to make eight saves for the visitors in white and orange.
Both teams are back on the pitch Thursday night, with Genesee Valley/Belfast heading up the road to the Rich Sullivan Complex in Belfast to host Friendship/Scio in a 7 p.m. battle, while Wellsville continues their road swing with a 5 p.m. visit to Bolivar-Richburg.
Fillmore 2, Bolivar-Richburg 1
FILLMORE — It was a first half dead heat when Bolivar-Richburg and Fillmore tangled with one another for the first time this season, Tuesday night, with both teams looking to leave tough losses in the rearview mirror. Chances would come and go, but through 40 minutes of complete soccer, nothing provided a big enough crack in the ice.
It would all come down to the art of making adjustments that would ultimately prove to become the difference maker. When it was time to enter the playing surface once again, the Eagles made sure they were ready.
Just how ready? Try five minutes.
After another early battle for possession with the Wolverines in the opening act of the second half, Fillmore buckled down and let their offense run wild, as Brayden Walton and Joe Sadler went back-to-back, taking what a scoreless deadlock and doubling down on a chance for victory, as they bounced back following their 1-0 overtime loss to Arkport-Canaseraga with a 2-1 home win over Bolivar-Richburg.
“After a tough loss in overtime last night, we were able to bounce back tonight with this against Bolivar-Richburg. As is the case so often with these county rivalries, nothing came easily,” Eagles coach Jarrett Vosburg said. “Excellent work ethic from Bolivar-Richburg, coupled with lack of execution on our part led to the first half that we had. In the second half, we executed much better. Brayden helped us get going and then Joe finished it off. Bolivar-Richburg never quit, scoring down the stretch to make it interesting. In the end, a win is a win, and it was the bounce back that we needed.”
Walton had a hand in both of Fillmore’s (4-1-2) goals in the second half, as he broke the ice with the team’s first marker just over 10 minutes in, capitalizing off a deflection in front of the Bolivar-Richburg net to poke it home. A mere five minutes later, Walton would hand out a helper to complete his three-point game, as Sadler headed home a beautiful corner kick off Walton’s foot to double the Eagles lead at the drop of a hat.
The lead was held until the Wolverines (1-5-1) trimmed it down the middle with eight minutes left to play, as Landon Barkley ended Fillmore’s shutout bid with his solo strike to the back of the net. With the visitors in white and black closing the gap quickly, the Eagles were able to fend off their final push to claim the bounce back win in front of their home crowd.
Fillmore went on to outshoot Bolivar-Richburg by an 11-6 count, with Brayden Hennard claiming the win in between the posts behind five saves. On the other side of the pitch, Ayden Music put a stop to nine shots he faced for the Wolverines, who now head home to host Wellsville on Thursday at 5 p.m.
The Eagles will now take the rest of the week to prepare for Homecoming weekend, as they welcome in Cuba-Rushford for a 5 p.m. visit on Saturday.
Houghton Academy 5, Cuba-Rushford 2
CUBA — After starting the season 0-2, the Panthers of Houghton Academy have quickly transformed into one of Allegany County’s hottest teams, having won their last four games in a row. Among the big impact players that have risen to the occasion, is David Jatta, who not only had himself a game during Tuesday’s visit to Cuba-Rushford, but a first 40 minutes.
The tone was set immediately by the Panthers senior, striking fast and furiously in the opening 10 minutes with back-to-back goals against Cuba-Rushford. That wasn’t all either. In total, Jatta would find the back of the net four straight times to allow Houghton Academy to take a 4-0 lead at the break — an advantage they kept in cruise control to collect their fifth consecutive victory, rolling to a 5-2 win over the defending Class C2 champion Rebels.
“Jatta is one of the best high school players I have seen. Credit to Houghton on a great job taking their chances tonight. He is a very special player and he took advantage of our early mistakes. They’ve found the chemistry and balance around him, and they have become such a tough squad.” said Rebels coach Rob Wight.
The scoring commenced for the Panthers (5-2) behind Jatta’s first two goals in 1:05, claiming a 2-0 lead right out of the gate in the first 10-minute portion of time. Just past halfway, Jatta kept pushing down on the gas for the offense with his hat trick-clinching goal before locking up the four-goal advantage at the break with his final tally with 7:14 remaining in the frame.
All four goals by Jatta were unassisted.
Houghton Academy kept the momentum rolling in their favor deep into the second half, as they recorded their final marker off a penalty kick from Josh Davidson. But the shutout would not last longer, as the Rebels (3-2-1) netted two goals in a seven-minute elongation — both of which, scored by Robert Childs, as he tucked away his first off a direct kick before being dished a pass from Chase Haas with 3:39 left in the game to score his second.
Each team posted 13 shots on their opposing nets, with Jerry Pham being credited with the victory in between the posts for the Panthers, as he made 11 saves. On the other side, Caleb Elliott made eight saves for Cuba-Rushford. The Rebels will look to bounce back over the road Saturday night in a 5 p.m. contest at Fillmore.
Houghton Academy will now conduct their search for a sixth straight win come Thursday night back on the road, as they pay a visit to Andover/Whitesville for a 6 p.m. first kick in Andover.
Andover/Whitesville 7, Friendship/Scio 1
WHITESVILLE — With a hard-fought battle against Houghton Academy now in the rearview mirror, Tuesday night arrived in full for Andover/Whitesville to issue a rebound back into the win column. Back home in Whitesville, they proceeded to do just that, taking a one-goal lead at the break and tearing it wide open with five second half goals to roll away from Friendship/Scio with a 7-1 victory.
Brody Vance, Gage Putnam and Colton Calladine all supercharged the Andover/Whitesville (4-3-1) offense from beginning to end, each scoring a pair of goals, with Calladine and Vance getting the party started just past the 10-minute mark in the opening half, going back-to-back in a five-minute elongation to double their early advantage on Friendship/Scio. Carter Grice and Trey Kent each received an assist on the pair of goals.
With a 2-0 lead intact, Friendship/Scio (0-8) cut the deficit straight in half right before the final horn sounded, as Aiden Golden found the back of the Andover/Whitesville net with 10 seconds remaining off a pass sent along by Cooper Greenman.
But despite the deficit-trimming score, Andover/Whitesville would resume where they left off in the last 40 minute stanza, as they went on to keep their position in the driver’s seat with five unanswered goals, including a pair of scores for Vance, and the second markers for both Calladine and Putnam, with Calladine, Kent and Jake Mattison (two assists) all dishing out apples along the way.
Oliver Smith had the team’s final goal off of a helper from Calladine — his second of the game.
The seven goals by Andover/Whitesville were provided off 32 shots against Friendship/Scio, claiming the 32-7 advantage. In goal, the win was Skylar Orpet’s to claim, making six saves. For Friendship/Scio, Deacon Brown made 25 saves.
Both teams are back on the field Thursday night, with Andover/Whitesville heading back over the hill to Andover to welcome in red hot Houghton Academy for the second battle in four days, beginning in a 6 p.m. first kick, while Friendship/Scio hits the road to the Rich Sullivan Complex in Belfast to take on undefeated Genesee Valley/Belfast at 7 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Cuba-Rushford 2, Honeoye 0
HONEOYE — No other girls soccer team is red hot more than the Cuba-Rushford Lady Rebels. With two gargantuan confrontations preparing to eclipse over the horizon in the coming days, the goal for the Lady Rebels was to carry over as much momentum as possible to keep their foot slammed down on the gas.
It commenced Tuesday night when it brought about a long trip up north to Honeoye. One thing would remain after the fog subsided at the end of the night: A five-alarm fire kept on burning.
Deep in the first half of play, all Cuba-Rushford needed was just five minutes to break the door down against the Lady Bulldogs, finding the back of the net twice in that span to take command of an advantage they would never lose sight of, as they went on to ward off Honeoye all the way to the end to remain undefeated in regulation play with a 2-0 shutout.
“I wasn’t really sure what to expect with this long trip midweek against an opponent we didn’t really know much about,” said Lady Rebels coach Aaron Wight. “But we came out strong in the first half and we created a lot of chances. Today was kind of the opposite of the issue we’ve been having. We kind of fell off in the second half, and we need to put together some complete games and keep our foot on the gas from start to finish.”
Proceeding a battle for possession through the midfield, the Lady Rebels (6-0-1) managed to wiggle their way free from Honeoye’s grasp to conduct a rapid succession of offense down the stretch. With the back-to-back efforts of Brynn Lavery and Cloey Larabee guiding the way, they would not be denied, as Lavery began the goal-scoring at the 18:26 mark by finishing a beautiful cross to the front dished out by Molly Kunz.
Just over five minutes later, more damage was done by Larabee, as she turned in a goal of her own after connecting with Lavery and her pass to help set it up, burying the shot to the lower left corner of the Honeoye cage to double their lead going into the break.
From the second half until the final horn, the Lady Rebels defense would remain glued together to keep Honeoye off the board, allowing just six shots to reach Annaleece Melton in between the posts — all of which, being saved to record the shutout. The visitors in white and blue went on to outshoot Honeoye by a 21-6 count.
Coming up Thursday night: Another massive road trip for the Lady Rebels, this time to Canisteo-Greenwood to face the Lady Chargers in a monstrous 6 p.m. first kick in the Canisteo Valley.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Wellsville 3, Arkport-Canaseraga 0
ARKPORT — A stellar evening of service was showcased by the Lady Lions of Wellsville come Tuesday night, as three Lady Lions combined to record an astonishing 20 aces against host Arkport-Canaseraga. Leading the way was Lindsay Stuck, who had 10 of them to aid Wellsville’s straight-set victory over the Lady Wolves in a 25-19, 25-14, 25-12 decision.
To go with her team-leading 10 aces, Stuck helped propel the Lady Lions (4-3) offense even further with five kills. Extending the team’s cause on the offense was Makenna Dunbar, who chipped in with five more aces, five kills and three digs. Averee Palmatier had five aces, three digs and a pair of kills of her own, while Lexi Irish helped set everything up behind 21 assists.
Stats for Arkport-Canaseraga were not provided.
The Lady Lions are back home Thursday night, welcoming in Genesee Valley/Belfast for a 7:30 p.m. visit.
Bolivar-Richburg 3, Houghton Academy 0
BOLIVAR — There’s only one undefeated team left standing on the volleyball court.
That being Bolivar-Richburg, who are fresh off a titanic marathon victory over their arch-nemesis Wellsville this past Friday night. Following the weekend, the Lady Wolverines showed no signs of slowing down whatsoever, as they brought out the brooms for a straight-set sweep of visiting Houghton Academy on Tuesday, claiming the 25-15, 25-18, 25-10 win.
The Lady Wolverines (5-0) had contributions all around to keep a flawless campaign firmly intact, with Carmen Crowley leading the charge behind nine kills, eight digs and a six-pack of aces from the service line. Trailing behind was Jayna Thomas, who had eight more digs to keep the ball off the floor, coupling them with seven kills. Danika Loucks chipped in seven digs of her own, while setter Willow Worth handed out 21 big assists.
On the other side of the net, Houghton Academy (2-3) was led by Abby Reitnour and her strong defensive game, garnering 17 digs. Rebekah Qian rounded off the scoring for the Lady Panthers with six more digs, two kills and two blocks.
Both teams are back on the court Thursday night, with Bolivar-Richburg staying home to welcome in Cuba-Rushford for battle in a 7:30 p.m. first serve, while Houghton Academy looks to rebound with another road trip, this time to Andover/Whitesville beginning at 6 p.m. in Andover.
Fillmore 3, Genesee Valley/Belfast 0
FILLMORE — After a 1-2 start to their season, the Lady Eagles of Fillmore have begun to hit their stride, coming away with their fourth win in their last five games behind multiple contributions on Tuesday, scoring what was a straight-set sweep of visiting Genesee Valley/Belfast in a 25-11, 25-17, 25-11 decision.
Mya Keeler had a whale of a night on offense to propel the Lady Eagles (5-3) to big success, as she scored 10 team-leading kills to pair with two blocks at the front of the net and two aces from the back line. Adding more help was Eevie Cox, who had four aces, four digs and a duo of kills. Chloe Hennard handed in a kill, while setter Eleanor Reitnour set up the attack by handing out 15 helpers.
Genesee Valley/Belfast (1-4) collected five kills, four digs and two aces from Paizlee Tilton to lead the way. Aubrey Geoppner finished with three more kills and three blocks to add in. The team will make their return in bounce back mode come Thursday, visiting Wellsville in a 7:30 p.m. contest.
Fillmore will return to the court on Homecoming weekend, as they welcome in Hinsdale for battle on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Cuba-Rushford 3, Andover/Whitesville 0
ANDOVER — Cuba-Rushford provided as strong of a start as imaginable to set the tone right away Tuesday night in their latest road trip, as they went forth to score their third straight victory to springboard above .500 on the campaign with a straight-set, 25-7, 25-11, 25-8 win over host Andover/Whitesville, in Andover.
Kendall Tompkins continues to be a strong force from every angle on the floor for the Lady Rebels (4-3), as she recorded 11 assists at the front of the net to help get the offense rolling, adding eight aces and four kills on the attack along the way. Adding more aid was Skylar Gadley, who chipped in five aces and three kills, while Jordyn Radomski rounded off the scoring with four more kills and an ace.
Andover/Whitesville (0-7) was paced by Lilly Ordiway, as she recorded five digs, four kills and a duo of aces.
Both teams are back on the hardwood Thursday night, with Cuba-Rushford continuing their road swing with a mammoth showdown at 7:30 p.m. against undefeated Bolivar-Richburg, while Andover/Whitesville plays host to Houghton Academy at 6 p.m. right back in Andover.
