Photos courtesy Lindsey Meys Photography, story by Chris Brooks
DANSVILLE — Wellsville had to secure a spot to take on Dansville to open the Section V girls soccer playoffs and across the first 40 minutes of play, the No. 10 seed gave the No. 7 Mustangs everything they could handle, despite falling into an early deficit just over 10 minutes into the game. Down by a goal at the break, it would give them a chance to make their move ahead of them.
As for Dansville, they would deny that chance.
In the last 40 minute session, it was used by the Mustangs to cushion their lead. Right from the opening kick, they held all momentum and control, using it to deliver three more goals in a span of 12 minutes to push the advantage out insurmountably despite a late Lions goal to end the shutout, as they rolled towards victory by a 4-1 count to end Wellsville’s season.
“It was a great game. 1-0 at halftime, we gave Dansville a fight,” said Wellsville coach Erica Aftuck. “We knew going into this year that this was going to be a bit of a building year. I’m very proud of every girl on this team. They worked hard all season long, and they never gave up on themselves or each other. The future looks bright for Wellsville Lady Lions soccer.”
Dansville made their mark with the game’s icebreaker just past the 10 minute mark of the game, leading an odd-man rush into the Wellsville (1-15-1) zone with Megan Tyler charging down the sidelines with possession. With it, she would squib over a pass to her left where Ellie Mountzouros met it with a one-timer into the net.
Although the lead was held, the Lady Lions would keep pace with the Mustangs minute-for-minute until the end of the first half to keep the offense frozen in their tracks, going into the break.
But the hosts in red and black would then run the table in the first 12 minutes of the second half, as Tyler, Chelsie Tyler and Aynsley Belcher all recorded goals to further the team’s cause, pushing the Dansville lead out to four before the Lady Lions netted their final goal of the season on a rush into the zone with 10 minutes remaining, as Mackenzie Cowburn put away a far post shot after a send-in from Carissa White near the sidelines.
The shot was one of eight shots the Lady Lions had applied against Dansville, as the Lady Mustangs outshot their opposition by a 23-8 count. In goal, Madison Thompson made 17 saves for Wellsville.
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