Saturday Roundup: Lady Eagles start title defense off hot, shutout Belfast 6-0; Hinsdale/GV ties, B-R boys victorious

Fillmore freshman Grace Russell (3) and Belfast freshman Mary Hamer, back, go up for the ball during Saturday night’s season opener in Fillmore. [Chris Brooks/WellsvilleSports.com]

Fillmore freshman Grace Russell (3) celebrates with teammates Sophia Templeton (1), and Shelby Beardsley (6) after scoring one of her four goals in the first half of Saturday’s home opener against Fillmore. [Chris Brooks/WellsvilleSports.com]

Fillmore junior Zoe Beardsley, middle, sends the ball downfield, as Belfast senior Shannon Durrigan, left, comes in to defend during Saturday’s home opener in Fillmore. [Chris Brooks/WellsvilleSports.com]

Belfast senior Cierra Wallace (1) sends the ball down the field on an indirect kick during Saturday’s season opener in Fillmore. [Chris Brooks/WellsvilleSports.com]

Belfast senior Emma Sullivan (9) and Fillmore freshman Rachel Hatch (4) go after the loose ball during Saturday’s season opener in Fillmore. [Chris Brooks/WellsvilleSports.com]

FILLMORE — After the Fillmore boys soccer squad saw a wide amount of success to begin the day Saturday, it was the ladies turn to take the field in an attempt to provide a sweep of Belfast to start a title defense of their own off to the strongest note possible.

Through the first 10 minutes of play in the opening half, Belfast and Fillmore were making transition after transition up and down the field. But the Lady Eagles were able to break the ice with Grace Russell, as she put away the first for the team near the halfway mark. She would go on to net three more goals to complete a four-goal, eight-point evening for the Lady Eagles, as they cruised their way toward a 6-0 shutout of the Lady Bulldogs.

“It was great to get on the field and play,” said Lady Eagles coach Jon Beardsley. “It was great to play, recognize our seniors and overall, play a solid game behind that. Belfast played organized defense on the field in the first half. We had our chances but their keeper also did a very good job keeping the ball out. Early in the second half, we just started clicking with Grace finding the net.”

The first Russell goal came at the 17th minute, as she took a Mallory DeRock boot from about 20 yards away from the Belfast net and redirected it past Kaitlin Sadler with a header to start the fire early on for the Lady Eagles (1-0). Towards the end of the first half, Shelby Beardsley went to work herself after the team continued to mount the pressure, catching Sadler off guard and away from the net to knock in her goal to earn the 2-0 halftime lead.

In the second half, Russell took over from that point on, as she scored the next three goals, two of them coming in a three minute span off assists from Morgan Byer and Hope Russell. She concluded her scoring with 22 minutes left in the second half with her fourth goal off a Sophia Templeton feed, her second assist of the game before scoring the final team goal with two minutes left to play.

Preslee Miller recorded the five-save shutout in goal for the Lady Eagles, while Sadler finished with 17 saves in between the posts for the Lady Bulldogs (0-1).


During both games, Fillmore honored all eight of their seniors across both teams. Those seniors being: Dylan Valentine, Isaiah Voss, Mason Cool, Zach Herring, Shelby Beardsley, Morgan Byer, Kirstin Frazier and Harley Miller.

“It was great to celebrate Senior Night, as we aren't taking anything for granted,” said Beardsley. “Seniors always set the tone for how a season might go and this preseason and in our first game, they really stepped up. We have six freshmen starting or playing key minutes, so we need our seniors to lead the way. For today, we take the win and are thankful for each chance to step on the field.”

Both teams are back in action Monday night, as Fillmore plays host to Genesee Valley, while Belfast hosts a Senior Night contest with Hinsdale. Both games are slated to begin at 7 p.m.

BOYS SOCCER

Bolivar-Richburg 3, Andover/Whitesville 1

BOLIVAR — Andover/Whitesville and Bolivar-Richburg fought their way to a 1-1 tie at the end of the first 40 minute period in Bolivar, Saturday night under the lights. But the Wolverines saw an emergence on the offense, as both Jason Greeson and Dominic Baldwin went to work, providing a pair of go-ahead goals that saw them stay in the lead for good, en route toward a 3-1 home opening win over the Panthers.

Bolivar-Richburg’s Rudy Polk and Andover/Whitesville’s Connor Phillips both scored a first half goal to set the bar toward a 1-1 tie at the end of the opening period, with Phillips earning his goal off a feed from senior Spencer Cook. Later on, the Wolverines (1-0) opened things up from the assistance of Greeson and Baldwin, as they produced a goal each to help the team spring ahead in the lead for good. Baldwin’s goal was assisted by Mark Pangburn.

In goal, Wayne Karnuth earned the win with three saves for the hosts. On the other side of the field, Luke Erdmann recorded 10 saves for the Panthers (0-1).

Bolivar-Richburg will remain put at home for their next game on Tuesday, as they host a 7 p.m. contest with Scio. As for Andover, they hit the road for Belfast on Thursday.

Genesee Valley 0, Hinsdale 0

BELMONT — It took 100 minutes of soccer to complete the Saturday matchup between Hinsdale and Genesee Valley, but in the end, there was no winner, as both the Bobcats and Jaguars would settle upon a scoreless tie to begin their seasons.

Despite the tie, the Jaguars (0-0-1) dominated most of the night on their home field, holding the visiting Bobcats to just two shots throughout the course of the game, while providing 15 shots of their own on offense. In between the pipes, Keegan McKnight made both saves for Genesee Valley, while Ethan Cashmere had 10 for Hinsdale (0-0-1).

Each team returns to the field Tuesday night on the road, as Genesee Valley ships out to Fillmore, while Hinsdale continues their road swing into Belfast. Both contests are set to begin at 7 p.m.