Thursday Roundup: Lady Lions take advantage early with 3 1st half strikes to set tone in 5-0 regular season-ending blank of B-R; GV/Belfast girls net 5 in road win at Fri/Scio

WELLSVILLE — After enduring three tough defeats from Cuba-Rushford, Fillmore and Genesee Valley/Belfast in between a scoreless deadlock at Canisteo-Greenwood down the home stretch of their regular season campaign, the Lady Lions of Wellsville were looking to turn a corner going into Sectionals.

Before they go on and join the rest of Section V in making their way to the postseason dance floor, there was one final game left for the Lady Lions to play with the Bolivar-Richburg Lady Wolverines.

It was an opportunity to finish their campaign on a resounding note that they did not squander, as they used three massive first half markers to set up shop and set the tone, adding two more scores in the last 40 minutes to help solidify a 5-0 shutout in the Lion’s Den on Thursday.

Alexa Hennessy, Caelyn Stevens and Raegan Vogel all had the honor of opening the door for the Lady Lions to start their momentous first half trek against the Lady Wolverines, with Hennessy reaching the scoreboard first in the opening 10 minute sequence after gathering a pass dropped back from Talia O’Connor in front and outside of the near post, as she belted the ball from long range directly into the net to break the ice.

Hennessy would then send along a helper herself to the front of the Bolivar-Richburg (4-11) goal later on. Just past midway after intercepting possession from the Lady Wolverines, Hennessy would fire in a cross that gained enough height for Stevens to provide a slight touch with the top of her head to pop it over goalkeeper Rylee Whiting and into the net, doubling Wellsville’s advantage.

With 13:55 left in the half, the Lady Lions branched out the advantage again with the aid of Vogel, who collected a loose ball after it was jarred away from the Lady Wolverines by Stevens. With Whiting out in front to challenge the ball, Vogel picked up the available possession for a strike on the empty Bolivar-Richburg net. With three different Lady Wolverines defenders surrounding her in front, the Lady Lions sophomore beat them all and fired it right home for a 3-0 lead going into the break.

Wellsville went on to preserve all of their first half momentum going into the last 40 minute stanza, as they put two more scores on the board — one from Emily Stuck off a pass from Bella Arias, and a second marker from Caelyn Stevens with two minutes remaining to officially lock up a strong end to their regular season.

The five goals for the Lady Lions stemmed off a 23-shot outburst against the Lady Wolverines, as they finished with a hefty 23-3 advantage in the respective department. In goal, Lydia Kaye picked up the win behind the conservation of a three-save shutout.

Whiting made 18 saves in between the posts for Bolivar-Richburg, who heads back home to Dunsmore-Latimer Field tonight for a 6 p.m. visit from Naples to close out their regular season.

The Lady Lions will now await their Sectional fate over the weekend, as they wrap up their regular season campaign with a record of 6-9-1 overall.

Genesee Valley/Belfast 5, Friendship/Scio 0

SCIO — On the very last day of their regular season on Thursday, the Genesee Valley/Belfast girls unleashed their fury behind a five-goal display from four different scorers against host Friendship/Scio, with Bayleigh Tallman and her pair of goals helping lead the charge during the team’s 5-0 shutout on the road not too far from home, in Scio.

“We held our own halfways decently in the first half, but in the second half, they broke it open a bit more,” said Friendship/Scio coach Dillon McFall. “Give credit to GV/Belfast where it’s due, they’re a great team. They are probably the best team we have faced all year. They’re relentless up front with three, four girls that can really put pressure on your defense. Avery (Lamberson) made some great saves, despite giving up the goals. She did a great job.”

After nearly 25 minutes of scoreless soccer between both teams across the field, Genesee Valley/Belfast kicked the offense into high gear going into the break with a 2-0 advantage, courtesy of scores from Whitney Young and Madison Yackeren, with the latter of the two goals coming with 1:25 left on the clock off a pass from Makenzie Turybury to officially double their lead. Hannah Southwick-Powers was awarded the primary assist on Young’s goal just past midway, at the 16:55 mark.

The advantage would remain frozen solid until the afterburners were turned back on again by the hosts, as they scored three more goals in a span of four minutes down the stretch to lock up the victory — two of them coming off the foot of Bayleigh Tallman, who scored off a solo rush for her first and then capitalized on a pass sent along by Addisyn Ely later on for her second goal with 14:24 to go.

Tallman’s goals would bookend an assist she added in the midst of the fury, as Hannah Southwick-Powers found the back of the net herself to help finish off the scoring from within a 21-shot output against Friendship/Scio, as they wrapped up with a 21-2 advantage in the department overall.

In goal, the win belonged to Morgan Yackeren, who made both saves to preserve the shutout. For Friendship/Scio, Avery Lamberson made 16 saves on the opposite end.

Both teams will now await Sectional seeding, which takes place this weekend, as Genesee Valley/Belfast wraps up at 14-1-1 overall, while Friendship/Scio concludes at 5-10-1 overall.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Bolivar-Richburg 3, Oswayo Valley 1

SHINGLEHOUSE, Pa. — One night removed from the Lady Lions of Wellsville turning the tables on them, the Lady Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg were on the rebound, with their latest trip over the road seeing them descend below the border on Thursday.

Heading onto the confines of Oswayo Valley to contest the host Lady Green Wave, the Lady Wolverines were put behind the eight-ball early on in thrilling fashion. But despite it, the 1-0 disadvantage did not faze them, as they rebounded in a massive way to sway all the momentum in their favor, proclaiming victory in each of the next three sets to win the match — their 10th of the season, in a 23-25, 26-24, 25-7, 25-19 four-set decision.

Leading the heroic efforts for the Lady Wolverines (10-3) was Carmen Crowley, who followed up a monster performance in Wellsville with 15 kills, 10 digs, five aces and a quartet of blocks at the net. Jayna Thomas led the defensive efforts with 11 team-leading digs to pair with eight aces and five kills.

In addition, Joey Danaher chipped in with eight kills, four digs and three aces, while Willow Worth set up all the offense with 26 assists.

Bolivar-Richburg will get back on the bus tonight for their third match in as many days, visiting Houghton Academy in a 6:30 p.m. first serve.