Large veteran group anchors lineup for Albion’s defending champion girls soccer team

Photo by Mike Wertman – Leading defending champion Albion into the upcoming Niagara-Orleans soccer season will be this large goup of veterans. In front are Alexis Creasey, Abbie Pappalardo, Kendall Derisley and Kaitlyn Kinter. In back are Claire Squicciarini, Abby Scanlan, Nicolina Creasey, Paige Derisley, Mariah Plain, Leah Pritchard and Aly Knaak.

Looking to keep the momentum from last year’s league championship and sectional final campaign, the Albion girls soccer team returns a large veteran contingent of 11 players.

Last fall, Albion, which claimed the Niagara-Orleans League title with a 10-0 record, went on to reach the Section VI Class B1 finals for the second year in a row compiling a 17-1-1 overall record.

The Purple Eagles large veteran group includes seniors Mariah Plain (Midfield/Forward), Alexis Creasey (Defender/Midfield), Kaitlyn Kinter (Midfield), Abbie Pappalardo (Midfield), Kendall Derisley (Midfield) and Paige Derisley (Defender/Midfield) along with junior Claire Squicciarini (Midfield/Forward) and sophomores Nicolina Creasey (Midfield), Abby Scanlan (Midfield/Forward), Leah Pritchard (Defender) and Aly Knaak (Defender).

Plain and Paige Derisley both earned first team N-O All-League honors while Scanlan, Kendall Derisley and Squicciarini all earned second team honors and Alexis Creasey and Pritchard were Honorable Mention picks.

Scanlan had a team leading 17 goals and 6 assists last season while Plain had 4 goals and 6 assists, Kendall Derisley 4 goals and 5 assists and Squicciarini 3 goals and 4 assists.

However, the Purple Eagles do have one key hole to fill as goalie Sydney Mulka, who earned first team N-O honors last season as a sophomore, is out due to an injury.

“Filling the goalie position will be key for us,” said Coach Maggie Orbaker. “We do have a strong nucleus though with way more experience than the last two years and they’ve worked so hard in the off season.”

The Purple Eagles graduation losses included midfielders Brylie Hapeman (15 goals, 17 assists), Lexi Wolck (7 goals, 5 assists) and defender Sarah Gregori. Hapeman and Wolck were both first team N-O All-League honorees and Gregori an Honorable Mention selection.

Albion will compete in the Holley and Kendall tournaments before beginning its N-O title defense on September 9 against Newfane.

Schedule
August: 29 vs. Honeoye at Holley Tournament, 4:30 p.m.; 31 – at Holley Tournament
September: 5 – vs. Kendall at Kendall Tournament, 7 p.m.; 7 – at Kendall Tournament; 9 – Newfane, 6:45 p.m.; 12 – at Wilson, 4:30 p.m.; 16 – Notre Dame, 6:30 p.m.; 18 – Barker, 6:30 p.m.; 21 – Akron, 6:30 p.m.; 24 – at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.; 27 – at Akron, 4:30 p.m.
October: 1 – at Newfane, 4:30 p.m.; 3 – Wilson, 4:30 p.m.; 5 – Roy-Hart, 7 p.m.; 9 – at Barker, 4:30 p.m.; 17 – vs. Keshequa at GCC, 7 p.m.