Wednesday Roundup: GV/Belfast, Hinsdale pick upo wins to meet in Friday’s Tourney title game; Lady Lions shutout by Addison on road

Written By Chris Brooks

BELFAST — This summer, it was announced that Genesee Valley and Belfast would combine all athletic programs for the 2021-22 season, with the exception of boys basketball. When the calendar flipped to September 1, the first day for both the Jaguars and Bulldogs as a combined unit arrived.

The boys soccer team, fronted by longtime Bulldogs head coach Mark Sullivan, took the field for their annual season-opening tournament in Belfast on Wednesday taking on Bolivar-Richburg — a team looking to build off a season of tremendous success last season, after reaching the Class C2 Semifinals.

For most of the contest, it was a back-and-forth duel, with all three goals scored were scored after the first half break. With each team getting on the board with one in the second half, it would force overtime — a period that Sullivan reminded his team what the tournament was all about.

“I told them what they needed to do before they went back out on the field,” he said. “This was a tournament that we’ve been winning for years, and I told them not to let me down when they got back out there. I didn’t think I would sweat this much with it being 50 degrees outside either, but Bolivar-Richburg is a quality team and it was going to be one of those battles. They don’t have many of the football kids on the team from last year, but they are still very athletic and very quick.”

With a 10 minute extra session on the horizon, sudden death was the name of the game now. And for Genesee Valley/Belfast, they made certain game one as one was a success.

It didn’t take long for the hosts in red to knock on the door just 57 seconds into the first extra session, finding a way to end it after Matt Weaver’s initial shot on the rush found its way across to a wide-open Joe Ward on the near post, where he was able to knock it away and end the game to give Genesee Valley/Belfast their first win of the season by a 2-1 count in overtime to advance into Friday’s Championship game.

“If you look at the stats, it shouldn’t have been this close of a game,” said Sullivan. “We had five or six great scoring chances in the first half that we should have put away. But it’s the first game of the season. I give Bolivar-Richburg all the credit in the world, they outhustled us all game. Not many teams in my career come here and outrun my teams, but they did tonight. We had some mistakes play into our hands with that penalty kick goal and then we finally set up that cross in front for Joe to tap in.”

The midfield battle ensued for much of the first half, with both teams getting a collective of chances on their respective opposing goal with Genesee Valley/Belfast (1-0) perhaps getting their best opportunities from the connection of both Matt Weaver and Stiven Lopez, from headers to potential breakaways toward goal, but the Wolverines defense found a way to remain in tact to prevent the damage.

On the other side, Bolivar-Richburg (0-1) saw Cayden Gaines and David Baldwin provide pressure with a couple of chances of their own, with one shot being bobbled by goalkeeper Sean Mahon, but was able to secure the save to halt the rush.

“We didn’t put the net on goal at all,” Sullivan said. “We had to make their goal uncomfortable, but we just missed. We’re in a bigger division now, and we can’t miss these opportunities against teams like B-R, Cuba, Fillmore and Wellsville all coming up on the schedule. D1 is already going to be tough enough to get through, one through nine on the board, and this is an all new experience to me. The quality of play is way ahead of what we’ve experienced in the past in D2.”

In the second half, the Wolverines started to pick up steam just under 10 minutes into the new session with perhaps their best shot on goal all night, as a ball from midfield sailed in on the Genesee Valley/Belfast goal. Mahon eyed the opportunity to make the save, but it slipped through and behind. Fortunately for the hosts, the ball was saved just in time before crossing the white line to prevent the ice being broken by the visitors in white and black.

Just minutes after the big attempt, Genesee Valley/Belfast found an opening with a massive penalty inside the box transform into Weaver electing to take the penalty kick. The senior would knock it away to the lower corner on the far side for his first of the season to get the hosts in red off and running with the lead.

Six minutes later after another midfield battle, the Wolverines found their way onto the board. After a scrum in front of the net formulated in front of Mahon in the Genesee Valley/Belfast cage, the ball was dug out by Aydin Sisson on the far side, taking and firing the ball across to Ryder Easton who made the most of the opportunity, tying the game at one with his first of the year to the near side with 16 minutes left.

The back-and-forth battle up and down the field resumed all the way down to the end of the second half. After a brief discussion, the hosts took just 57 seconds to find a way to end the game with Weaver beginning the final rush on the Bolivar-Richburg goal, shoveling the ball across to a wide open Ward on the left side, putting it away to end it and give the team their first win as a combined unit.

Sullivan said after game one, it’s going to take some time to put all the puzzle pieces in place.

“All these kids, and even myself, we’re still trying to work on some new things,” he said. “It’s going to take me at least four games, maybe more, to figure out what group on the field gels the best together. You can see what my boys are ahead of with the new kids coming in to join us, and what the GV kids are ahead of with my kids. I have to find that balance in between all of it, while at the same time find how I coach them.”

Genesee Valley/Belfast outshot Bolivar-Richburg by a 10-4 total count, with Mahon earning the win between the pipes behind four saves. On the other end, David Abdo made eight saves for the Wolverines.

At the end of the day, Sullivan says if his team wants success in their first year together, all 27 of them will have to work together to do so.

“Both schools have been a pleasure to get along with. The GV kids shake my hand after practice, after the game tonight. They all listen and I told everyone, and I have 27 kids this year, not everyone is going to have a chance to play. It’s impossible, especially if you’re in games when you’re losing by seven, eight, or however much. I try to preach to them how I re-assess the games we play, and put the pieces where they fit. The biggest goal we all have to that we have to work together, especially if the merger is in for the long haul. I just want the kids to have fun.”

Prior to the nightcap, the Hinsdale Bobcats managed to punch their ticket into Friday’s title game with a 5-1 victory over Andover/Whitesville. Three first half goals fueled the fire for the Bobcats (1-0), with Sam Cashimere starting the festivities just 10 minutes into the game.

The game was soon tied by CJ Estep for Andover/Whitesville (0-1), who registered all three shots for the team, as he found the back of the net after a deflection in front of the Hinsdale cage. The Bobcats would regain the lead for good soon after with goals from both Tucker Schwartz and Robert Childs in a four minute span past the midway mark, with Steven Hayman and Ethan Chapman handing out assists on the goals, respectively.

Hinsdale would add two more pieces of insurance in the second half to secure their lead for good with a second goal from Schwartz just over two minutes in off an assist from Childs, while Brayden Hyman finished off the scoring just past the midway mark to close up shop. Hinsdale would go on to outshoot Andover/Whitesville by a 15-3 count, with Ethan Cashimere earning the win in goal with two saves.

In goal on the other end, Landon Ordway and Ethan McRae combined to make 10 stops.

On Friday in the Consolation round, Andover/Whitesville will do battle with Bolivar-Richburg to begin the night right back at the Rich Sullivan Complex in Belfast, beginning at 5 p.m. Later on, Hinsdale and Genesee Valley/Belfast will decide this year’s tournament winner under the lights at 7 p.m. in the Championship game.

Arkport/Canaseraga 1, Fillmore 0

FILLMORE — The quest to get back to the Class D1 Finals has begun for the Eagles of Fillmore on Wednesday. But their first task at hand, was no slouch.

Fillmore welcomed in a rising Arkport/Canaseraga Wolves team for their first meeting since last season’s Class D2 Semifinals which saw the Eagles advance. For the Wolves, it was a chance to settle the score and redeem their avengement.

It was a game that saw the Eagles take control, but the opportunity presented itself, the visitors made sure it was worthwhile.

After a scoreless battle through the first 40 minutes, Arkport/Canaseraga managed to find an opening from within the Fillmore defense, as Joe Bauch found the back of the net to tally the game’s only goal to help pull the Wolves ahead and toward a shutout victory, taking the 1-0 decision over the Eagles to start their season on the right foot.

Bauch’s goal came off a feed from Ethan Reynolds at center, and was one of just four total shots the Wolves applied onto the Fillmore cage. Despite the loss, the Eagles (0-1) outshot Arkport/Canaseraga by an 11-4 total count, with Luke Colombo recording three saves.

Fillmore will hit the road for the first time this season on Saturday, as they begin their road slate with a visit to Cuba-Rushford at 12 p.m.

Hammondsport 2, Friendship 1 (F-2OT)

FRIENDSHIP — In a game that saw nearly 40 shots plastered on goal between both Hammondsport and Friendship on Wednesday, 80 minutes across regulation was not enough to determine a winner.

For the first time this season, overtime was required after the visiting Lakers found a way in the second half to tie the game up and force the extra session. After chances were exchanged in the first overtime, the second overtime was the last opportunity to strike.

For Hammondsport’s Preston McConnell, he didn’t let that go to waste, as he connected with Jacob Doyle on their rush into the Friendship zone, ultimately burying the game-winning goal into the back of the net with 4:35 remaining to give them the 2-1 edge over the host Golden Eagles.

The shot was the 24th overall for the Lakers in the game, as they outshot Friendship by a 24-15 count. But it was the Golden Eagles (0-1) that answered the call early on in the first half. Near the halfway point, Jacob Golden shelled out a pass to Jerome Harmon to give the Golden Eagles the 1-0 lead going into the break.

In the second half, the Lakers wasted no time providing a response for Friendship with Alex Brown scoring the team’s first goal of the season off a Cooper Watson assist to tie the game, ultimately forcing the 1-1 deadlock into extra time. After opportunities could not be capitalized upon in the first overtime, Hammondsport found a way to put a bow on the comeback victory behind McConnell’s game-winning goal with under five minutes left to go to close up shop.

In goal for Friendship, Taylor Moore recorded 16 saves.

The Golden Eagles are on the road next Wednesday night, as they prepare to take on Bolivar-Richburg in a 5 p.m. first kick at Dunsmore-Latimer Field.

GIRLS SOCCER

Addison Tournament: Addison 4, Wellsville 0

ADDISON — Addison found their groove across all fronts to begin their season strong on Wednesday, as both teams provided a first round sweep of visiting Wellsville on Wednesday with the Lady Knights posting a 4-0 shutout in their home tournament to move onto Friday’s title game.

No stats were provided upon publication.

Wellsville (0-1) will now get set to take on Jasper-Troupsburg in the Consolation Round of tournament action right back in Addison, Friday night at 4 p.m.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Allegany-Limestone 3, Cuba-Rushford 0

CUBA — After bringing out the brooms with a straight-set sweep of Bolivar-Richburg on Tuesday to begin their season, Section VI powerhouse Allegany-Limestone made a return trip to Allegany County to take on one of Section V’s powers on the volleyball court — Cuba-Rushford.

The Lady Gators made sure the return home was in winning form, as they brought out the brooms once again against the Lady Rebels, scoring a 25-15, 25-14, 25-10 straight-set victory in the Wighthouse on Wednesday to spoil the season opener for the hosts.

On the offensive front, Brianna Green led Cuba-Rushford (0-1) with a team-high five kills to go with four blocks, two aces and one dig. Ella Jaffe added in three kills of her own to help fuel the fire, pairing them with one dig and one ace. Setter Quincy Tylor helped dish out seven assists up front to go with one dig.

The Lady Rebels are back on their home floor next Friday night, as they prepare to welcome Hinsdale into the Wighthouse for a 7 p.m. first serve.

Chris Brooks
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