Photo gallery and story by CHRIS BROOKS
CANISTEO — They weren’t able to make one another’s acquaintances during the inaugural Tri-County Cup last month in Cuba. But on Monday, Cuba-Rushford and Canisteo-Greenwood collided in full force for their first and only meeting of the season in the Canisteo Valley.
For the Lady Rebels, it was an opportunity to get back into the win column in the biggest of ways. But for the Lady Chargers, an opportunity to continue playing some red hot soccer with Sectionals beginning to close in.
Everything the game had to offer was up for grabs, and for one team, they needed just the first 40 minutes to set the tone immediately. That being the hosts in red and white, as they came out swinging with authority against the Lady Rebels with four big first half goals from four different scorers, allowing them to capture a lead they would never lose while adding one more in the second half for good measure, en route to a 5-0 home shutout.
Right near the three minute mark of the opening half, Riley Winans was the first to strike for Canisteo-Greenwood. After Cuba-Rushford (5-6) had trouble clearing their own defensive zone at first, the Lady Chargers took full advantage of it a short time later with her score, digging the ball free from the Lady Rebels defense to post a 1-0 lead.
Just past the 10 minute mark, the lead grew for the Lady Chargers with a score from Kahley Stewart, as the offense kept pinning the Cuba-Rushford defense pinned deep on the next scoring transition down the field, where a series of passes ultimately landed on the foot of Stewart, putting enough power on the shot to squeeze it into the next.
The Lady Chargers would take full control from all angles, allowing Mya Rexford to become the next scorer to find the back of the Cuba-Rushford net with 15 minutes left, as she fronted the next offensive rush after a throw-in near midfield, weaving her way past the Lady Rebels defense on the way in. The first half scoring was finished off by Lillian Mullen after a corner kick was redirected back out towards her near the top of the 18, firing a shot right back in that would slip underneath Lilly Johnson-Clark in goal and into the net for a 4-0 halftime lead.
Canisteo-Greenwood would add one last score in the second half of play to further cement their triumphant performance to begin the new week.
Further statistics on the battle were not made available to report upon publication.
Cuba-Rushford will continue their road swing later on in the week, as they prepare to visit the Bolivar-Richburg Lady Wolverines in a 5 p.m. first kick on Thursday.
Keshequa 4, Wellsville 3
NUNDA — Wellsville and Keshequa came together to put an all-offensive slugfest on full display at Kiwanis Park on Monday, as the two squads combined to record seven goals across a back-and-forth affair.
The largest lead either team would grasp onto all throughout the night was two. The momentum remained with Keshequa going to the break and coming back out, as they managed to branch their lead out even further. But a late Lions comeback allowed them to tilt the power balance in their favor, tying the game.
But for Keshequa’s Ian Hinrich, he accounted for all three of the goals at that point to ignite the offense. With nearly five minutes left, Hinrich connected with his fourth goal of the game to put the hosts in orange and black ahead for good, as they captured a wild 4-3 home victory.
Just 15 minutes into the contest, Hinrich struck gold with his first tally off a throw-in on the sideline. After a one-touch forward pass in his direction, Hinrich was able to dig it free between two Wellsville (2-10) defenders, sliding it behind Gavin Haggerty in the process to break the ice. Just past the midway mark, the Lions clawed back to tie the game at one on an Ethan Bailey direct kick which was headed straight into the net by Cam Lyons.
Keshequa was able to garner the lead back before the half reached its conclusion after a back pass in front of the Wellsville net hit Hinrich in stride with 16:38 left to go, scoring it a short time later to the far side to claim the 2-1 lead. Hinrich would then go on to finish off his hat trick in the early stages of the second half after a battle in the far corner sees him earn possession in the middle of the net, firing the ball in to go up by a pair.
As time progressed, Wellsville was able to dig their way back to within reach with back-to-back goals to tie the game, both propelled by Bailey, as he helped set up the second score on another direct kick into the Keshequa zone, where a skip off the top of the head from Cameron Dodge weaved its way into the net. Moments later, Bailey himself tied the game with a goal of his own after prying the ball free from the defense after a deep boot down field.
Despite the tie, Keshequa was able to take care of the victory with Hinrich’s fourth of the game, making a run past a pair of Lions defenders on the way into the zone with nearly five minutes left to play, finishing the back-and-forth battle with the last punch.
Further in-depth statistics were not made available to report upon publication.
Wellsville will return to the field Saturday morning back home, as they welcome in the undefeated Fillmore Eagles for an 11 a.m. visit to the Den.
Andover/Whitesville-Jasper-Troupsburg 8, Friendship/Scio 1
SCIO — The rebound was in full effect for Andover/Whitesville-Jasper-Troupsburg on Monday, as they witnessed Robert Bradley record a nine-point night on offense against host Friendship/Scio to propel towards a big 8-1 victory in Scio.
Andover/Whitesville-Jasper-Troupsburg (5-7) collected four goals in each half of play, all coming after the hosts were able to reach the board first with Cooper Greenman’s score on a pass sent along by Connor Blouvet to break the ice.
The lead for Friendship/Scio (1-12) would shrink later on, with four different scorers all posting markers for Andover/Whitesville-Jasper-Troupsburg including Bradley, as Oliver Smith, Colton Calladine and Brody Vance all helped create a 4-1 lead over Friendship/Scio in the last 10 minutes going into the break. Vance and Bradley would record assists along the way.
The momentum remained in the favor of the visitors for the remainder of the game in the second half, as they went on to score four more goals — three more from Bradley to finish off his hat trick, and then some. In the midst of Bradley’s outstanding game, Brody Vance would record his second of the game at the 32:46 mark of the second half to help extend the lead.a
The eight goals by Andover/Whitesville-Jasper-Troupsburg were posted off 17 total shots, as they outshot Friendship/Scio by a 17-3 count. In net, Derek Perkins was awarded the win behind two saves, while Deacon Brown made nine saves for the hosts in black and gold.
Both teams are back on the field Wednesday night on the road, as Andover/Whitesville-Jasper-Troupsburg prepares for a 7 p.m visit to Judy Bliven Field in Belmont to take on Genesee Valley/Belfast, while Friendship/Scio heads north to visit Lima Christian in a 5 p.m. first kick.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Fillmore 3, Arkport/Canaseraga 0
FILLMORE — Although their win streak was extinguished last week, the Lady Eagles of Fillmore still remain as hot than ever on Monday, as they used a brilliant start to their game in the opening set to set the pace against visiting Arkport/Canaseraga, recording the straight-set victory — their seventh in the last nine games, in a 25-13, 25-16, 25-22 decision inside The Rock.
The defense was paced by Eevie Cox once again for the Lady Eagles (7-5), as she battled all across the floor to keep the ball in the air with a seven dig performance, pairing them with four aces from the service line. On offense, Savannah Hosmer recorded three kills and three additional aces, while Ava Sylvester had three aces and two kills to add.
Fillmore is back in action over the road Wednesday night, as they prepare to visit the Wellsville Lady Lions in a 7:30 p.m. first serve.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 3, Canisteo-Greenwood 2
CANISTEO — It was an incredible battle from start to finish in the Canisteo Valley on Monday, as Genesee Valley/Belfast and host Canisteo-Greenwood fought tooth and nail through thick and thin all game long. But at the end of it all, visiting Genesee Valley/Belfast was able to create enough of an opening in the fifth and final set to swipe away a five-set win over the Lady Chargers.
Leading the offense was Liliana Porter-Long, who scored nine team-high kills to go with five aces. Madison McKenzie pitched in a strong offensive effort of her own with five kills and five aces, while setter Cassidy Hand dished out 17 helpers to go with four aces.
Set scores were not made available to report.
Genesee Valley/Belfast (3-9) will have a 7 p.m. first serve in store for Wednesday night at Houghton Academy.
Ellicottville 3, Hinsdale 0
HINSDALE — The Ellicottville Lady Eagles were able to take care of business in strong fashion on the road in Hinsdale, Monday night, as they left town victorious with a straight-set, 25-9, 25-17, 25-15 sweep of the Lady Bobcats.
Statistics for the Lady Bobcats (1-9) were not made available to report upon publication.
Up next, Hinsdale will prepare for a 6 p.m. visit to Keshequa on Wednesday.
