Lady Hawks edge Geneseo in Class C1 semi

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 25 October 2022 at 9:17 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Samantha Bates, who scored both of the Lady Hawks goals, gains control of the ball against Geneseo’s Mary Claire Rollins during this evening’s Class C1 semifinal at Cal-Mum won by Holley.

A pair of first half goals proved to be just enough as No. 3 seed Holley edged No. 2 Geneseo 2-1 in the semifinals of the Section V Class C1 girls soccer playoffs this evening at Caledonia-Mumford.

Samantha Bates scored both of the goals for Holley in the final six minutes of the opening half. The first came on a shot from 20 yards out off an assist from Alivia Wolf with 6:55 to go. The second, which proved to be the game winner, came on a direct kick with just 2:13 remaining.

However, Geneseo got right back into the game when Bridget McMaster scored just four minutes into the second half.

The Blue Devils kept the pressure on including having a shot rattle off the cross bar with 29 minutes remaining and later getting a flurry of three straight corner kick opportunities with seven minutes to go.

Holley goalie Layne Walker and her defensive mates including Bella Thom, Alivia Wolf, Zoey Wolf, Leigha Walker, Jailyn Bishop and Emma Brady, rose to the occasion and turned back the challenge to preserve the narrow one goal victory. Layne Walker had a big save on the first of those corners, 5 big saves in the half and no less than 8 for the game.

“For the first 15 minutes we had to settle in but after we got settled in, we really played together and stayed strong,” said Holley Coach Renee Wolf. “Our defense played very well and Layne came up with some big saves for us.

Now at 16-2-1 on the season, Holley will next face No. 1 Gananda (18-0), a 2-0 winner over No. 4 Marcus Whitman (15-3-1), in the C1 championship game on Friday at a time and site to be determined.

Geneseo finishes the season at 16-3.

Note: More pictures from tonight’s game can be found on the Hub’s Sports Facebook page.