Big two title season for Kendall girls

Photo by Bruce Landis – Members of the Genesee Region League Division 1 and Section V Class CC champion Kendall girls varsity team includes, in front from left, Hannah Reynolds, Kristen Jacob, Jenna Jacob, Marisa Hanlon and Tania Arellano. In the middle row are Dallas Johncox, Mariah Ammerman, Amelia Patrick, Maya Rutland, Jessica Hofer, Coralee Freitag and Jenna LoSapio. In the back row are Taylor Rutland, Kenzie Galletta, Taylor ReQua, Emily Boyle, Annaliese Bosko, Keri Furness, Julia Smith, Elizaberth Rath and Coach Pam Beres.

It was a big double championship season for the Kendall girls varsity soccer team which captured both the Genesee Region League Division 1 and the Section V Class CC titles compiling a 17-2-1 record.

The G-R title was the second in a row for the Lady Eagles which claimed their first sectional title since 2003.

“It’s nice to bring back that winning tradition,” said Coach Pam Beres. “The girls really exceeded our expectations for the season.”

Kendall repeated as the G-R Division 1 champion by posting a 13-1-1 record including a pair of wins over runner-up Byron-Bergen by narrow margins of 1-0 and 2-1.

Seeded No. 2 for the Class CC playoffs, Kendall captured the title by outlasting top seeded defending champion Caledonia-Mumbford 2-1 in double overtime. It was a victory which avenged a 1-0 loss in the 2013 title contest.

“The girls just really showed a lot of perseverance and when the going got tough they really showed a lot of heart,” said Beres. “We definitely peaked at the right time.”

Junior Maya Rutland led the Kendall offense this season with 29 goals and 6 assists. Freshman Taylor ReQua added 11 goals and 15 assists, junior Taylor Rutland 6 goals and 7 assists, sophomore Elizabeth Rath 3 goals and 3 assists, senior Kristen Jacob 2 goals and 3 assist and junior Coralee Freitag 2 goals and 1 assist. Maya and Taylor Rutland each netted a goal in the sectional title win over Cal-Mum.

Junior goalie Jenna Jacob, who made 90 saves and had a goal against average of 0.584, anchored the Kendall defense.

The Lady Eagles roster also included seniors Marisa Hanlon, Tania Arellano and Hannah Reynolds; juniors Keri Furness, Mariah Ammerman, Emily Boyle, Annaliese Bosko, Dallas Johncox, Julia Smith, Jessica Hofer and Amelia Patrick and sophomore Jenna LoSapio.

Kendall dropped a narrow 2-1 decision to Avon in the Section V Class C state qualifier game.

“We’ve got a lot of players coming back so I’m very optimistic about next year,” said Beres.