Photo by Mike Wertman – Helping to anchor the lineup for the Medina/Lyndonville soccer team this season are Kristian Snyder, Ethan Leonard, Jacob Hoffee, Vassilios Bitsas and Quentin Adkins.

Filling holes caused by the loss of no less than eight starters to graduation, is the key task for the Medina/Lyndonville boys soccer team heading into the upcoming Niagara-Orleans League season.

Senior midfielders Kristian Snyder, who earned first team N-O All-League honors last fall, and Vassilios Bitsas, an Honorable Mention selection, head the Mustangs returning contingent. Snyder had 5 goals and 6 assists and Bitsas 4 goals and 6 assists last year.

That returning group also includes seniors Quentin Adkins (defender), Nick Albone (midfield), Coby Albone (defender), Chase Albone (defender), Garren Bayne (midfield), Kevin Capstick (goalie), Adam Cifelli (midfield), Jacob Hoffee (goalie), Hayden London (midfield), Chase McAdoo (midfield), Dylan Nicholson (defender), Mitchell Perry (midfield) and junior Ethan Leonard (midfield).

“We’ve got a lot of guys back but a lot of them saw only limited playing time last year,” said Coach Steve Luksch. “The key will be if those role players can step up and be the main group this year. If they can do that then we should be OK. We do have a key group of returning starters out there and we have depth.”

The Mustangs lineup also includes juniors Elian Gonzalez (forward), Trenton Jones (forward), Owen Frasier (defender), Alex Allis (forward), Connor Miller (midfield), Norm McDonald (defender), Trevor Hare (midfield) and Cody Crane (goalie) along with sophomores Matt Hess (defender) and Andrew Houseman (midfield).

The key losses to graduation include goalies Tyler Ames and Justin Morgan, forwards Brian Anderson and Zach Harris, midfielders Colm Cooper, Greg Husung and Nick Hinkson and defenders Josh Klotzbach and Chase Pecoraro. Ames, Anderson and Cooper were all first team N-O All-League honorees and Husung a second team selection.

The Mustangs, which went 5-3-4 in N-O competition and 8-5-4 overall last season will face Tonawanda on August 31 at Lyndonville and visit Park on September 6 before opening the league season at home on September 8 against Akron.

“Our league is so competitive every game is a dog fight,” said Luksch.

Schedule
August: 31 – Tonawanda, 4:30 pm. at Lyndonville
September: 6 – at Park, 4:30 p.m.; 8 – Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 12 – Newfane, 4:30 p.m.; 14 – at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.; 17 – Albion, 10 a.m.; 20 – Wilson, 6:30 p.m.; 21 – at Oracle, 4:45 p.m.; 23 – Global Concepts, 4:30 p.m.; 26 – at Akron, 4:30 p.m.; 28 – Niagara Catholic, 4:30 p.m. at Lyndonville.
October: 5 – at Newfane, 4:30 p.m.; 6 – at Global Concepts, 4:30 p.m.; 7 – Roy-Hart, 7 p.m.; 11 – at Albion, 6:30 p.m.; 14 – at Wilson, 6:30 p.m.

Photo by Mike Wertman – Anchoring the lineup for the Holley varsity football squad this season are, in front, Ryan Andrews, Jeremy Mallett and Colin Papaj. In back are Nick Schutz, Zach Day, Glenn Thrower and Camron Labarge.

Faced with a bit of a rebuilding task due to graduation losses, the Holley Hawks are prepping for the September 3 home season opener against a new foe Nichols of Buffalo.

Senior running backs Zach Day and Colin Papaj provide experience in the backfield where junior Jeremy Mallett takes over the key quarterback position.

Juniors Ryan Andrews and Camron Labarge head the receiving corps while senior Alex Mounts and juniors Glenn Thrower and Nate Towne anchor the line.

“We are small up front and in numbers and we’re inexperienced,” said Coach Wil Prince. “Graduation hurt us so these guys have to step up.”

Those graduation losses include quarterback Nick Passarell, running backs Adam Stetzel, Clarence Moyer and Nick Shenck, wide receivers Patrick Purtell and Zach Vaccarelli along with linemen Austen Vroman, Ross Pinson and Cameron Thorn.

Holley, which went 0-6 in the Genesee Region League and 2-7 overall last fall, will tuneup for the season by participating in a scrimmage at East Rochester this Saturday.

Schedule
Sept. 3 – Nichols, 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 1 – at CG Finney, 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 – at Alexander, 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 – Pembroke, 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 30 – at Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 – Notre Dame, 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 15 – Attica, 1:30 p.m.

Medina began tuning up for the upcoming Niagara-Orleans League volleyball season by competing in the Gates-Chili Tournament today.

Medina lost in two sets to Churchville-Chili, Canandaigua and Pittsford Mendon and a one game Silver Flight playoff to Rush-Henreitta.

The Medina JV team finished second  in the Silver Flight losing to Pitsford Mendon in the finals after defeating Byron-Bergen and Mercy.

Medina next hosts Tapestry in a non league match on August 30 at 6:30 p.m.

Photo by Mike Wertman – Medina’s large group of veteran players includes, in front, Martha Gardner, Kylie Bielak, Destiny Satkowski, Hannah Adams and Morgan Roach. In back are Ashley Howell, Cora Payne, Olivia Carter, Madeline Winters, Kati Young and Katie Biliki. Missing from the photo is Melanie Hibbard.

Medina will get an early start to the girls soccer season as the Mustangs will face the host Lady Warriors Friday in the opening round of the Tonawanda Tournament.

The Mustangs return a large contingent of 11 players from last year’s squad which went 4-8-2 in Niagara-Orleans League action and 5-9-2 overall. That group includes seniors Martha Gardner (midfield), Hannah Adams (forward), Morgan Roach (defender), Katie Biliki (defender), Kati Young (goalie) and Madeline Winters (defender) along with juniors Destiny Satkowki (forward) and Kylie Bielak (defender); sophomores Cora Payne (defender), Melanie Hibbard (defender), Ashley Howell (defender) and freshman Olivia Carter (midfield).

Satkowski, who earned second team N-O All-League honors, led the Mustangs in scoring with 20 goals and 5 assists as Gardner had 3 goals and a team leading 16 assists.

“We’re looking to build on last year,” said Coach Mike Lepkyj.

The Mustangs key losses to graduation include goalie Emma Gardner and forwards Allison Bensley and Andrea Toussaint.

Medina is scheduled to open the N-O season at home on September 2 against Akron.

Schedule
August: 26 and 27 – at Tonawanda Tournament; 29 – at Cheektowaga, 10 a.m.
September: 2 – Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 6 – at Barker, 4:30 p.m.; 12 – at Roy-Hart, 4:30 p.m.; 15 – Albion, 4:30 p.m.; 17 – at Newfane, 9 a.m.; 21 – Wilson, 6:30 p.m.; 27 – at Akron, 4:30 p.m.; 30 – Barker, 4:30 p.m.
October: 1 – at Lyndonville, 1:30 p.m.; 4 – Newfane, 4:30 p.m.; 6 – Roy-Hart, 4:30 p.m.; 8 – at Albion, 10 a.m.; 12 – at Wilson, 6:30 p.m.

Photo by Mike Wertman – Barker/Roy-Hart’s large group of veteran players includes, in front, Brandon Lindke, Brandon Lee Woods, Shawn Callaghan, Tim Maines, Eric Fitch, Savatore Gioeli and Gavyn Samanka. In back are Trevor Meal, Matt Maines, Nick Fazzolari, Matt Laverty, Eddie Wasnock, Noah Rocklein, Colton Bohall, Dylan Gominiak and Kyle MacDonald.

Looking to rebound from last year’s 0-5 B East Division (2-7overall) record, Barker/Roy-Hart returns a large veteran contingent of some 16 players.

That group includes seniors Ed Wasnock (WR/QB/DB), Noah Rocklein (DL/K), Shawn Callaghan (RB/LB), Colton Bohall (DB), Matt Laverty (LB), Tim Maines (TE), Eric Fitch (FB/LB), Matt Maines (DE), Dylan Gominiak (DL), Nick Fazzolari (FB/LB), Craig Parfinski (OL/DL). Trevor Meal (DE), Brandon Lindke (DB), Brandon Lee Woods (TE/DE) and Kyle MacDonald (RB/DB) along with juniors Gavyn Samanka (OL/DL) and Savatore Gioeli (OL/DL).

Rocklein and Fazzolari both earned second team B East Division All-Start honors while Wasnock and Fitch both received Honorable Mention.

Junior Jake Bruning looks to take over the key quarterback position.

Other key juniors include linemen Ben Schwab and Matt Steves along with running back/defensive backs Malik Smith and Aaron Curry.

“We’ve got a lot of kids and a lot of good competition and that can certainly lead to success on the field,” said Coach Bill Bruning.

The team’s key losses to graduation include quarterback Andy Xapsos, running backs Joel Ulrich and Ryan Ulrich and linemen Chris Anderson, Chris Steves and Joe DiMayo.

Barker/Roy-Hart will open the season with a home B East Division contest against Medina/Lyndonville at Middleport on September 2. The team will tune up for that contest by taking part in a seven team scrimmage at Medina this Saturday.

Schedule
Sept. 2 – Medina/Lyndonville, at Middleport 7 p.m.
Sept. 10 – at Notre Dame, Batavia, 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 – at Albion, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 – Alden at Middleport, 7 p.m.
Oct. 1 – at Newfane, 2 p.m.
Oct. 8 – Depew at Barker, 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 14 – at Lackawanna, 7 p.m.

Photo by Mike Wertman  – Veteran members of the Medina/Lyndonville varsity football squad include, in front, Mason Lewis, Jalin Cooper, Tyler Howard and Eric Neace. In back are Powell Stephens, Izaiah Rhim, Jake Cotter, Emmanuel Sones, Dawson Joy and Frank Carrasquillo.

Providing experience both at the skill positions and on the line a group of 10 returnees anchors the lineup for the Medina/Lyndonville football squad heading into the September 2 B East Division season opener at Barker/Roy-Hart.

That veteran group is headed by the senior running back duo of Jake Cotter and Eric Neace, junior wide receivers Jalin Cooper and Mason Lewis and sophomore quarterback Izaiah Rhim who started the first two games last year before he was injured.

Cotter earned first team B-East All-Star honors while Neace was a second team honoree and Cooper and Lewis honorable mention selections.

Cotter rushed for 1,441 yards and scored 11 touchdowns and Neace gained 484 yards and had 10 TDs. Cooper caught 17 passes for 365 yards and 4 touchdowns.

The Mustangs also return seniors Powell Stephens, Emmanuel Sones and Frank Carrasquillo on the line along with Dawson Joy, who is switching from running back to the line, and Tyler Howard, who is shifting from the line to a tight end spot. Joy and Howard are also both seniors.

“Offensively were not that big up front but it’s a very athletic group, very quick and strong so we’re going to try and utilize those strengths,” said Coach Eric Valley. “Defensively it’s the same thing. We’re not big up front so we want to use our skill and speed and get creative.”

The Mustangs roster also includes seniors Dustin Joy (RB/DB) , Charles Atkins (WR/DB) and Lucas Porter (RB/DB); juniors Chris Clark (OL), Ian Joseph (OL/DE), Jessie Inienez (OL/DE), Brendan Luthart (WR/DB), DaRon Bellan (WR/DB), Porter Bellan (OL), Tyson Bellan (OL), Mike Eckard (OL) and Thomas Culmo (OL) along with sophomore Johnny Salone (WR/LB) and freshman Mario Fidanza (OL/DL).

“We’ve got some experience and it’s a very athletic group. We just hope to stay healthy,” said Valley whose Mustangs went 2-3 in the division and 6-3 overall last fall.

The Mustangs will tuneup for the season by hosting a 7 team scrimmage tis Saturday morning which will include Newfane, Wilson, Barker/Roy-Hart, Pembroke, Silver Creek and Dunkirk.

In addition to the five B-East foes (Barker/Roy-Hart), Albion, Alden, Depew and Lackawanna), the Mustangs will have two new non league opponents in U. Prep of Rochester and Cleveland Hill.

Schedule
Sept. 2 – at Barker/Roy-Hart, 7 p.m. at Middleport
Sept. 9 – at Lackawanna, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 – Alden, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 – U. Prep, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 30 – at Depew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 8 – at Cleveland Hill, 2 p.m.
Oct. 14 – Albion, 7:30 p.m.

Photo by Mike Wertman – Albion’s large veteran contingent includes, in front, Zoe Chatfield, Emily Blanchard, Nicole Eldred, Natalie DiCureia and Vivian Rivers. In back are Brylie Hapeman, Sarah Gregori, Isabella Prest, Catherine Thom, Katie Mann, Elisabeth Baker and Shelby Restivo.

A dozen returnees provide a strong nucleus for the Albion girls soccer team as the Purple Eagles look to improve upon last year’s 7-7 Niagara-Orleans League record.

Senior forward/midfielder Emily Blanchard, who earned first team N-O All-League honors, and senior defender Vivian Rivers, a second team honoree, head Albion’s veteran group. Blanchard scored a team high 23 goals and added 15 assists last year.

That veteran contingent also includes seniors Catherine Thom (forward), Nicole Eldred (forward), Shelby Restivo (defender), Isabella Prest (goalie), Katie Mann (defender); juniors Elisabeth Baker (defender) and Natalie DiCureia (defender) along with sophomores Brylie Hapeman (forward), Zoe Chatfield (defender) and Sarah Gregori (forward). Eldred had 5 goals and 5 assists and Hapeman 4 goals and 5 assists last year.

“We’ve got some good experience back and we should be solid defensively,” said Coach Bruce Blanchard. “The big key is we’ve got to be able to score.”

Albion’s key losses to graduation include defender/forward Mariah Elsenheimer and midfielders Ally Page and Mikayla Yaskulski . Elsenheimer had 15 goals and 5 assists, Page 7 goals and 9 assists and Yaskulski 6 goals and 3 assists.

Albion opens the N-O season at Akron on August 30.

The Purple Eagles season will also be highlighted by the participation in two tournaments, at Holley on September 1 and 3 and at Kendall on September 8 and 10.

Schedule
August: 30 – at Akron, 4:30 p.m.
September: 1 and 3 at Holley Tournament; 6 – at Newfane, 4:30 p.m.; 8 and 10 at Kendall Tournament; 12 – Wilson, 4:30 p.m.; 15 – at Medina, 4:30 p.m.; 17 – Roy-Hart, 10 a.m.; 19 – at Barker ,4:30 p.m.; 24 – Akron, 5 p.m.; 27 – Barker, 6:30 p.m.; 30 – Newfane, 6:30 p.m..
October: 4 – at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.; 6 – at Wilson, 4:30 p.m.; 8 – Medina, 10 a.m.

Roy-Hart defeated host Akron 228-269 at DanDee Farms this morning to open the Niagara-Orleans League golf season.

Hogan Lang took medalist honors for Roy-Hart with a 41.

Murphy Lang added a 44 and Manigan Lang a 46 for the Rams.

Stephen Wagner led Akron with a 47.

Roy-Hart next hosts Albion at Shelridge at 1 p.m. Thursday.

Thursday’s other matches will have Medina at Akron and Barker at Newfane.