Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Kelsee Soule spikes over an Amherst defender during the Purple Eagles sectional opening win this evening.

No. 2 seed Albion posted a 25-10, 25-11, 25-20 victory over visiting No. 15 Amherst this evening the opening round of the Section VI Class B playoffs.

In Class C1, No. 6 Medina bested visiting No. 11 Lackawanna 25-15, 25-13, 25-7.

Chanyce Powell had 11 spiking kills and 3 service aces, Meghan Hurley 4 kills and 4 aces, Kelsee Soule 7 aces and 3 kills and Aleah Foos 3 kills to lead the way for Albion which stays unbeaten at 18-0.

Soule served Albion out to a quick 7-0 lead in the first set registering 4 aces during the 6 point run (2-7).

Albion’s Emilie Barleben sets a ball for Aleah Foss to spike.

Kassidy Hastings added service points 14-16, Soule 19-21 and Hurley 22-24 as Powell’s fourth kill of the set polished off the 25th point.

Hurley then had huge run of 11 straight service ponts (6-16) to spark Albion out to a commanding 16-2 lead in the second set. The run included 2 service aces and 3 kills by Powell.

Powell then served Albion out to a 12-3 lead in the third set by scoring six straight points (7-12), a run which included two aces. She also polished off the set and match winning 25th point with a kill.

The Purple Eagles will next host a quarterfinal match on Monday against the winner of the No. 10 Iroquois vs. No. 7 Kenmore East match.

Je’ne Brown spikes for Medina which defeated visiting Lackawanna this evening in the sectional opener.

Medina 25-25-25
Lackawanna 15-13-7
Je’ne Brown had 6 kills, Emily Kams 4, Carley Schultz 3 and Molley Gross and Lexie Sargent 2 each to lead Medina at the net in the straight set victory over Lackawanna.

Sargent also had 5 aces, Kams 3, Liz Newman and Brandi Guild 2 each and Brown and Schultz 1 each. Kams also had 13 assists.

Cssie Sargent served up points 15-22 in the opening set as Guild scored the game winner.

Kams then scored points 8-13 and 23-25 in the second set.

In the deciding third set, Brown served up points 10-18 and Newman 21-25.

Medina next visits No. 3 Akron at 6 p.m. Monday in the quarterfinals.

Newfane 25-25-25
Tonawanda 12-18-12
Also in Class C1, No. 8 Newfane defeated No. 9 Tonawanda 25-12, 25-18, 25-12 as Sarah McGhee had 11 kills and 5 aces, Faith Morgan 9 kills and 4 digs, Megan Froman 10 digs and Amber Hasley 4 kills and 4 digs.

Section V

Lyons defeated visiting Kendall 25-20, 25-21, 25-19 and HAC downed visiting Lyndonville 25-17, 25-16, 25-21 in the opening round of the Section V playoffs.

Top seeded Akron blanked No. 5 Eden 2-0 and No. 2 defending champion Barker shutout No. 3 Wilson 3-0 in a rainy semifinal round of the Section VI Class C field hockey playoffs this evening at Amherst.

The perennial rivals Lady Tigers and Lady Raiders will now meet for the Class C title at 3:30 p.m. November 5 at Amherst.

It will make the seventh time in the last eight years that Barker and Akron have met in the title contest. Barker has won the previous six title showdowns including a 2-1 victory last season.

The teams split a pair of regular season meetings with Akron winning the first 1-0 and Barker the second 3-2 in overtime.

Akron got goals from Sarah Schultz in the first half and Emily Buckley in the second half to oust Eden.

Maddy Krzykowski earned the shutout in goal for the Lady Tigers.

Barker jumped out to a lightning quick 1-0 lead over Wilson on a goal by Madison Greenwald just 40 seconds into the contest off an assist from Erika Moeller.

The Lady Raiders made it 2-0 before half-time as Jillian Moeller scored off an assist from Lydia Dewart.

Natalie Menz added the clinching goal for Barker with 17 minutes to go in the second half.

Caitlyn Mason made two saves in goal to earn the shutout.

Barker/Roy-Hart closed out the football season on a high note by scoring a rainy 24-14 victory over Newfane this evening at Middleport.

Andy Xapsos rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns to lead the offense for Barker/Roy-Hart while on defense, Ryan Ulrich and Eric Fitch both made 6 tackles, Matt Laverty and Sam Dauphin 5 and Matt Maines added 2 sacks.

Barker/Roy-Hart built up a 16-0 lead as Ed Wasnock scored on an 8 yard touchdown run in the second quarter and Xapsos on a 2 yard TD run in the third. Ulrich added the two-point conversion after each TD.

Xapsos later scored the clinching touchdown on a 59 yard run in the fourth quarter as Ulrich again added the two-point conversion.

Newfane’s two touchdowns were scored in the fourth quarter by Jake Kubala and Tyler Gilbert.

Barker/Roy-Hart finishes the season at 2-7 and Newfane at 0-9.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina/Lyndonville back Jake Cotter picks up yardage as Nick Falkides makes the tackle for Williamsville East. The action took place during the Mustangs rainy win over the Flames this evening at Vets Park.

Breaking away from a 14-14 half-time deadlock, Medina/Lyndonville scored touchdowns on four of five second half possessions to earn a 42-20 victory over Williamsville East in a rainy match-up game season finale this evening at Vets Park.

Quarterback Tyler Valley threw four touchdown passes, including two to Eric Neace and one each to Jake Cotter and Jalin Cooper, to spearhead the Mustangs offense which also included TD runs by Cotter and Tom Follman.

Valley, who has 11 TD passes on the season, passed for a total of 182 yards and Cotter, who has 1,441 yards rushing, gained 156 yards on the ground.

Two interceptions by Mason Lewis and one by Izaiah Rhim highlighted the Mustangs defensive effort. Follman also had 10 tackles and a sack and Johnny Salone a sack.

Williamsville East did grab an early 7-0 lead by scoring a touchdown on a blocked punt.

However, Medina/Lyndonville answered right back just three plays after the ensuing kickoff as Valley hooked up with Neace for a 35 yard touchdown pass play. Cotter added the two-point conversion run giving the Mustangs an 8-7 lead.

Eric Neace scores for the Mustangs on a touchdown pass from quarterback Tyler Valley as Flames defender Brian Morreale chases him.

The Mustangs made it 14-7 on a 24 yard Valley to Neace touchdown pass with 7:20 to go in the second quarter. A short Will East punt out of the end zone to the Flames 24 set up that short scoring drive.

The Flames though quickly countered with a long touchdown pass to knot the contest at 14-14.

Will East did mount one more drive just before half-time but the Mustangs defense halted that on a nifty leaping one handed interception by Rhim.

The Mustangs regained the lead for good at 22-14 by scoring on the opening drive of the second half as Valley connected with Cotter for a 20 yard touchdown run. Valley also passed to Neace for the two-point conversion.

A 22 yard pass completion from Valley to Cooper and a 13 yard run by Cotter ignited that drive.

The Mustangs defensive unit quickly stopped the Flames next drive as Follman registered a key sack.

Mason Lewis of the Mustangs comes around end as Flames defender Nick Falkides pursues.

Keeping the momentum, the Mustangs offense quickly drove in for another score on a 12 yard TD run by Cotter. Valley threw a two-point conversion pass to Mason Lewis to make it 30-14 with 2:08 remaining in the third quarter.

A 30 yard pass from Valley to Cooper started that drive.

The Flames did score late in the quarter to cut the deficit to 30-20 but the Mustangs got that one right back on the first play of the fourth quarter as Valley tossed a 19 yard touchdown pass to Cooper for a 36-20 lead.

Follman rounded out the Mustangs scoring with a two yard touchdown run with 3:18 remaining to make it 42-20.

Medina/Lyndonville finishes the season at 6-3 and Williamsville East at 3-6.

Mustangs quarterback Tyler Valley tries to pass over Flames defender Vince Lalama.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Meghan Hurley and her Purple Eagle teammates will host Amherst in the opening round of the Section VI Class B playoffs on Thursday.

Albion and Medina will both open Section VI volleyball playoff competition with home matches at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Niagara-Orleans League champion Albion, which is seeded No. 2 in Class B, will host No. 15 Amherst. The undefeated (17-0) Purple Eagles captured the Class B2 title last year.

Medina, which is seeded No. 6 in Class C1, will host No. 11 Lackawanna. The winner will then visit No. 3 Akron next Monday. The Mustangs went 7-5 in N-O competition this season.

Also in Class C1, No. 8 Newfane will host No. 9 Tonawanda and No. 10 CSAT will visit No. 7 Fredonia on Thursday.

In Class C2, No. 9 Wilson visits No. 8 JFK on Thursday. No. 6 Roy-Hart will face No. 3 Da’vinci at 5 p.m. next Monday at Olmsted.

Sacred Heart closed the gap on Medina Euchre League leading Legion by posting a 38-32 victory Monday.

JR Wilson also earned a share of second place by besting Vets Club by the identical score of 38-32.

Legion now holds a six point league lead at 150-130 followed by Sacred Heart and JR Wilson, both at 144-136, and Vets Club at 122-158.

League competition continues on November 2 with Vets Club at Legion and Sacred Heart at JR Wilson.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Jalin Cooper and his Medina/Lyndonville teammates will host Williamsville East on Wednesday in the season finale.

A new foe will provide the opposition as Medina/Lyndonville hosts Williamsville East at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Vets Park in a season ending Section VI match-up game.

Medina/Lyndonville brings a 5-3 record into the first ever gridiron meeting between the two teams while Williamsville East is 3-5.

Both teams will be looking to keep the momentum generated by victories earned last week as the Mustangs defeated Tonawanda 36-14 and the Flames bested Amherst 32-12.

Quarterback Tyler Valley led the Mustangs attack against the Warriors by throwing three touchdown passes including one each to Jalin Cooper, Dylan Lewis and Eric Neace. Jake Cotter added 114 yards rushing including a 72 yard TD run.

Cotter now has 11 touchdowns and 1,285 yards rushing on the season while Neace has scored 8 touchdowns and Cooper 7.

Barker/Roy-Hart vs. Newfane

Barker/Roy-Hart will also host a season ending match-up game against Newfane at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Middleport.

Barker/Roy-Hart is 1-7 on the season and Newfane 0-8.

Quarterback Andy Xapsos, who has passed for 4 touchdowns and rushed for 3 more, leads the Barker/Roy-Hart offense.

Holley vs. Mynderse

Holley will visit Mynderse at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the title game of the Section V Class C Connors and Ferris Bowl.

Holley, which is 1-7, defeated Wayland-Cohocton 24-12 and Mynderse, which is 2-6, downed Marcus Whitman 43-6 in the semifinals last week.

Quarterback Nick Passarell threw three touchdowns passes, including two to Clarence Moyer and one to Camron Labarge in the Hawks win.

On the season, Passarell has passed for 10 touchdowns and rushed for 5 to spearhead the Hawks offense. Eight of those TD passes have gone to Moyer.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Maya Rutland (13), who netted the lone goal, tries to advance the ball against Warsaw defender Morgan Hoffman during the Lady Eagles sectional semifinal win this evening at Caledonia-Mumford.

A goal in the first two minutes proved to be just enough as top seeded Kendall edged past No. 5 Warsaw 1-0 this evening in the Section V Class C2 girls soccer semifinals at Caledonia-Mumford.

Maya Rutland scored her team leading 28th goal of the season just 1:14 into the game on a rebound off an initial shot by Coralee Freitag who earned the assist.

The defending Class C2 champion Lady Eagles had a number of other good scoring opportunities, including a breakaway just a minute later, but couldn’t capitalize.

“We had a quick start to get us going in the right direction but we couldn’t capitalize again,” said Kendall Coach Pam Beres whose Lady Eagles have advanced to the sectional finals for the third year in a row.

Kendall’s Taylor ReQua (10) tries to go by Warsaw’s Emma Kate Herman.

Kendall goalie Jenna Jacob, who earned her school record 16th shutout of the season, and her defensive mates did the rest to preserve the narrow victory.

Warsaw mounted three threats in the opening half but Jacob made the save on the first and then defenders Julia Smith and Elizabeth Rath took turns making key clears to turn back the other two threats.

“Our defense worked well together as a unit and Jenna came up with some big saves in goal for us,” said Beres.

Jacob made three more key saves in the second half, one on a direct kick attempt by Warsaw which later had another shot just miss sailing across the goal mouth.

Hailee Mitchell (12) of the Lady Eagles works to advance the ball up field against Grace Wolf of the Lady Tigers.

The shutout was the 16th in 18 games for the undefeated (18-0) Lady Eagles whose defense has allowed just two goals on the season.

It marked the second straight year that Kendall has defeated Warsaw in the semifinals. The Lady Eagles blanked the Lady Tigers 3-0 last year. Kendall went on to nip Cal-Mum 2-1 in overtime in the finals.

The Lady Eagles will now defend their title by facing No. 3 South Seneca in the championship game which the Section V website has scheduled for 5 p..m. Friday at Caledonia-Mumford. South Seneca edged No. 7 Bolivar-Richburg 3-2 in the other semifinal.

Kendall’s Dallas Johncox (8) keeps the ball away from Warsaw’s Kailah Marshall.

Section VI Class B Semis

Wilson wins, Roy-Hart bows
Niagara-Orleans League champion No. 2 seed Wilson blanked No. 3 Olean 2-0 this evening in the semifinals of the Section VI Class B playoffs on goals by Rachel Senek and Kayla Neuman.

Wilson will now face No. 4 Tonawanda, a 4-2 victor over No. 16 Roy-Hart in the other semi, in the championship game on Saturday. Emma Lindke scored both goals for Roy-Hart.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Coralee Freitag, left, and her Lady Eagle teammates will face Warsaw in the Section V Class C2 semifinals on Tuesday.

Just as was the case in the opening round, the top seeded Kendall girls will again face a rematch of last year’s playoff foe when the Lady Eagles take on No. 5 Warsaw in the Section V Class C2 soccer semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Caledonia-Mumford.

Undefeated (17-0) Kendall, which shutout Campbell-Savona in the quarterfinals for the second straight year by the identical score of 6-0, blanked Warsaw 3-0 in the semifinals last year.

Warsaw advanced by shutting out No. 4 Bishop Kearney in the quarterfinals.to improve to 11-5-1.

The victor will face the winner of the No. 7 Bolivar-Richburg vs. No. 3 South Seneca semi in the championship game on Friday. Bolivar-Richburg upset No. 2 Marion in the quarterfinals 2-1.

The Kendall offense has been led by Maya Rutland with 27 goals and 7 assists, Taylor Rutland 11 goals and 9 assists, Taylor ReQua 10 goals and 21 assists and Coralee Freitag 9 goals and 5 assists.

Jenna Jacob in goal anchors the Lady Eagles defense which has allowed only 2 goals in 17 games and registered 15 shutouts.

Also on Tuesday, the Niagara-Orleans League will be represented in both semifinal games of the Section VI Class B girls soccer playoffs at Amherst.

No. 2 Wilson will face No. 5 Olean at 5 p.m. and No. 16 Roy-Hart will take on No. 4 Tonawanda at 7 p.m.

Roy-Hart has already upended top seeded City Honors 2-0 and No. 8 Alden 6-1.

The Lady Rams have been sparked offensively by the 1-2 combination of Emma Lindke (28 goals, 11 assists) and Amber Villella (27 goals, 13 assists).

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Eddy Schildt, right, spikes the ball back for Lyndonville/Medina during this evening’s home match against Cardinal O’Hara.

Cardinal O’Hara posted a straight set 25-16, 25-10, 25-12 victory over the host Lyndonville/Medina boys varsity volleyball team this evening in the regular season finale for the first year Tigers.

Two spiking kills by Kenny Kalson and one by Luke Cook, along with a block by Eddy Schlidt and a service ace by Kalson, helped Lyndonville/Medina jump out to an 8-6 lead in the opening set.

However, O’Hara scored 10 of the next 11 points to rally into a 16-9 lead.

Three service points by Schildt, a run which included an ace and a kill by Kalson, rallied Lyndonville/Medina to within 18-14 but the Tigers could get no closer.

Dustin Joy bump sets for the Tigers.

A kill by Schildt helped the Tigers take a brief 3-1 lead at the outset of the second set bt the rest of the set was all Hawks.

Lyndonville/Medina also got off to a good start in the third set grabbing leads of 4-0 and 6-5.

Dustin Joy served up the first four points for the Tigers, a run which included a block for a point by Schildt and an ace. Schildt followed up with kills for points 5 and 6 but the lead was short lived.

The Hawks outscored the Tigers 20-6 the rest of the way to close out the set and the match.

Schildt had 4 kills, 2  blocks and 1 ace and Kalson had 3 kills, 2 blocks and an ace for points for the Tigers as Trevor Thaine and Joy both had an ace and Luke Cook a kill.

Lyndonville/Medina will begin Section V playoff competition at the end of the week.

Mason Pecoraro makes a spike attempt for the Tigers.