Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Helping to lead Holley into the up coming football season will be this quartet of veterans including Landyn Burch, Kevin Robinson, Grant Smith and Brady Fiorito.

After seven years of 8 Man competition Holley is returning to 11 man football this season playing an independent schedule.

The Hawks will open the season at Cardinal O’Hara in Tonawanda on Saturday September 6 and then host CG Finney on September 13.

“It will be a challenge,” said new Hawks Coach Wyatt Wink. ” It is a whole new scheme offensively and defensively. It is a larger field with more players and playing 11 man will be new to a lot of our players but I think we can be competitive.”

Holley’s veteran group includes senior running backs Brody Fiorito and Kevin Robinson, senior wide receivers Landyn Burch and Colton Bradley and senior linemen Grant Smith, Caleb Donley and Braden Read along with junior linemen Immanuel Cornell, Anthony Feliciano and Blake Fusano.

Newcomers include the sophomore trio of quarterback Joseph Lombari, running back Isaiah Williams and wide receiver Matteo Caterisano.

Holley’s graduation losses included the skill position quintet of quarterback Destin Kuyal, running back Hunter Jewell-Smith and wide receivers Vinny Golisano, Jacob Pitcher and Mason Moyer.

Batavia spoiled the Holley boys soccer team’s season opener as the Blue Devils downed the host Hawks 3-1 this evening in a non league contest.

Cooper Wolf scored the Holley goal off an assist by Breyden Crawford.

Holley will next open Genesee Region League competition against Pembroke on September 8.

A quick two goal first half scoring burst keyed Kendall to a rainy 3-0 victory over St. Mary’s of Lancaster this afternoon in the championship game of the Eagles season opening boys soccer tournament.

Breaking away from a scoreless deadlock, Pablo Rosario-Reyes netted what proved to be the game winning goal for Kendall at the 17 minute mark of the first half.

The Eagles wasted no time in doubling the score as Jonathan Esposito scored just two minutes later.

Kendall later got a big insurance goal from Rosario-Reyes just two minutes into the second half to round out the scoring.

Jonny Conte, who earned MVP honors, made several big saves in goal in each half for the Eagles to preserve the shutout.

The Eagles are now 2-0.

Improving to 2-0, Roy-Hart downed Barker 251-288 in a Niagara-Orleans League golf match at Shelridge this morning.

Isaac Smith took medalist honors with a 47 and Evan Poeller added a 48 to lead Roy-Hart.

Barker is now 1-1.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Anchoring the Medina lineup is this group of veteran upper classmen. In front are Jayzon Wills, Hadrian Batista, Kolton Fletcher and Avion Johnson. In back are Matthew Jacobs, Frankie Stephens, Preston Woodworth, Christian Moss and Jerrell Nealy.

A talented veteran group of skill position players is the strong point but low squad numbers is the big concern as Medina preps for the September 5 football opener at Silver Creek/Forestville.

“I’m very pleased with our skill positions but we have some holes to fill on the line,” said Coach Eric Valley. “We just don’t have a lot of depth so staying healthy will be the key to our success. We have to make the most of what we have and hopefully our skill players will carry us early on.”

The Mustangs veteran skill positions group includes junior quarterback Preston Woodworth, senior running back Christian Moss, junior running back Jayzon Wills, senior wide receivers Kolton Fletcher and Jerrell Nealy, senior tight end Avion Johnson and junior wide receiver/quarterback Hadrian Batista.

The receiving corps has been bolstered by the addition of senior Vinny Gray who is also playing soccer.

Woodworth passed for 900 yards and 10 touchdowns last fall while Moss rushed for 1,860 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Senior Frankie Stephens and junior Matthew Jacobs provide some veteran experience on the line.

The Mustangs linemen also includes sophomores Ryan Frentz, Cole Herman, Nate Surdel and Zahkias Chinn.

The squads’ other returners include sophomore linebackers Jackson McGrath and Harriosn Farley along with freshmen Jude Lacy (wide receiver) and Kendrick Russaw (running back).

The Mustangs graduation losses included linebacker/offensive lineman Brody Fry, place kicker Cole Callard, tight ends Carter Woodworth and Braydin McEwen-Miler and lineman Ethan Carson.

Medina will also visit Alden on Sept. 12 before hosting Barker/Roy-Hart in the home opener on Thursday Sept. 18 at 5:30 p.m.

However, the Mustangs schedule does not include a regular season ending rivalry weekend game against rival Albion.

Section VI schedule makers were unable to include that contest on the schedule because Medina’s decision to return to 11 man football (after briefly opting to go to 8 man because of low numbers) came after the sectional schedule had been put together. In order to include the Medina vs. Albion game both the Class C and Class B schedules would have had to be redone as Albion is in Class B, a task which schedule makers were unwilling to do.

Instead of Albion, Medina will close out the regular season with a non league home game against Batavia.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Ryleigh Denning lets loose with a shot for the first of her three goals in Kendall’s semifinal tournament win over HAC/Bishop Kearney this afternoon.

Scoring twice in each half, Kendall blanked visiting HAC/Bishop Kearney 4-0 this afternoon in the semifinals of the Lady Eagles season opening soccer tournament.

Ryleigh Denning scored a pair of first half goals to give Kendall a 2-0 lead at the break.

Denning then completed her hat-trick with a second half goal and Sophia Picardo followed up with a goal to round out the Lady Eagles scoring.

Brooke Rodas earned the shutout in goal.

Kendall will now face St. Mary’s of Lancaster in the championship game at 5 p.m. Friday.

Sophia Picardo leads a Kendall rush up field.

Kendall goalie Brooke Rodas makes a save.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Shayla Higgins works through traffic to advance the ball during this evening’s tournament win over visiting Alexander.

Albion blanked visiting Alexander 2-0 this evening in the semifinals of the Purple Eagles season opening girls soccer tournament.

Lena Grillo and Julia Button each scored a goal and Dulce Sanchez had an assist to provide all the offense Albion would need.

Aaliyah Jones earned the shutout in goal.

Albion will now face Oakfield-Alabama in the championship game at 6:45 p.m. Friday. Oakfield-Alabama downed Newfane 3-2 in the other semifinal.

Boys Soccer
Albion bowed 6-0 to NorthStar this evening in the semifinals of the Wheatland-Chili boys soccer tournament.

Albion’s Dulce Sanchez works to maintain control of the ball.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Ava Blount battles for control of the ball with Akron’s Alexis Salmon during this evening’s Niagara-Orleans League field hockey opener at Vets Park.

Akron opened defense of its Niagara-Orleans League field hockey title with a 6-0 win over Medina this evening at Vets Park.

Morgan Tomporowski scored the three goal hat-trick to lead the way for Akron as Madison Gates, Alexis Salmon and Madigan Regan each scored one.

Akron jumped out to a 2-0 first quarter lead on a pair of goals by Tomporowski and went on to hold advantages of 4-0 at the half and 5-0 at the three-quarter mark.

Barker 2, Wilson 1
Hailey Dodge scored from Kaylee Stoll and Madelina Pavlock from Dodge, both on penalty corners, to earn Barker the narrow 2-1 win at Wilson.

Kenmore 3, Roy-Hart 2
Adella Dukes had a goal and an assist and Violette Streckwald a goal for Roy-Hart in the Lady Rams 3-2 home field loss to Kenmore.