Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Noah Skinner breaks free from Newfane defender Landen Braman during the Mustangs season opening win at Vets Park this evening.

Penalties and turnovers dominated the action, especially through the first three quarters, as Medina opened defense of its C North Division title with a 21-7 win over Newfane this evening at Vets Park.

Breaking away from a 7-7 deadlock, Medina finally regained the lead for good on a two-yard touchdown run by Noah Skinner with 16 seconds to go in the third period. Cole Callard tacked on the extra point kick for a 14-7 lead. Runs of 25 yards by Skinner, 27 by Aiden Pitts and 20 by Amari Soule highlighted the 80 yard land march.

The Mustangs later scored the clincher on a 15 yard TD run by Cayden Lilleby with 6:17 to go in the fourth quarter as Callard again added the extra point kick. Runs of 17, 10 and 8 by Skinner and of 12 by Pitts highlighted what was again a land march.

Medina also scored first on a 10 yard Justin Woodworth to Lilleby pass and a Callard PAT kick in the opening quarter.

Newfane though answered right back with a touchdown pass from Nate Snow to Landen Braman and an extra point kick by Ben Dickinson.

However, the Mustangs defense blanked the Panthers the rest of the way stopping three Newfane drives inside the Medina 30 one of which was halted by a Pitts interception.

The Panthers did misfire on a 26 yard field goal attempt in the third quarter which would have snapped the 7-7 deadlock.

Medina next visits Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville next Friday at 7 for another C North Division game.

Medina’s Aiden Pitts runs through the line for big yardage.

Rebounding from a two touchdown deficit, Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville rallied to nip visiting Alden 22-20 this evening in a season opening interdivisional game.

Trailing 20-6, the Silverbacks came battling back two two unaswered touchdowns to claim the narrow win.

The Silverbacks first sliced the deficit to 20-14 on a one yard touchdown run by quarterback Trenton Muck and a two point conversion carry by Justin Terwilliger in the third quarter.

Then in the final quarter a short TD run and two point conversion carry both by Wyatt Sherman provided the margin of victory.

Terwilliger also scored the Silverbacks first touchdown on a 4 yard run in the first half.

The visiting Bulldogs though held a 14-6 lead at the half.

“It was a huge win,” said Silverbacks Coach Joey Suhr. Being down like that by two touchdowns in past years we would have folded but this group kept their heads and really rebounded strong.”

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Sh’kwe Riley tries to get away from several tacklers during the Purple Eagles home field loss to the Golden Cougars this evening.

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove rallied to defeat host Albion 30-16 this evening in a season opening B2 Division game.

Trailing 16-14, the Golden Cougars first rallied to score the game winning touchdown in the third quarter and then capitalized on an Albion turnover at the Purple Eagles 40 to score the clinching TD in the final stanza.

Albion scored first on a three-yard touchdown run and a two point conversion carry by Sh’kwe Riley late in the first quarter. A big 44 yard pass completion from quarterback Amari Jones to Javon Jones highlighted the drive.

However, the Purple Eagles could score only one more touchdown and that came in the third quarter on a 40 yard Amari Jones to Javon Jones pass completion. Amari Jones added the two-point conversion giving the Purple Eagles their last lead at 16-14.

The Golden Cougars led 14-8 at the half after scoring a pair of second quarter touchdowns.

Jacob Hughson led the Albion defense with 7 solo tackles as Riley and Mason Lynch both had 5 and Auston Johnson 4.

Albion next hosts Maryvale next Friday evening at 7.

Albion’s Javon Jones goes up to haul in a pass for a big gain.

Kendall rallied for a goal in the second half to earn 1-1 tie with host Akron this afternoon in a season opening non league boys soccer game.

Zach Barrett pulled Kendall even with a goal off an assist from Colby Hughes.

Cole Fleming scored in the first half for Akron.

In another non league game Batavia edged host Holley 2-0.

W-C Tournament
Albion played to a 2-2 tie with Northstar in the consolation game of the Wheatland-Chili Tournament.

Alonzo Figueroa-Fuentes and Finn McCue scored the goals for Albion.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville/Barker’s Rubie Godfrey works to get around Medina’s Aurora Owczarczak during the host Lady Tigers season opening win over the Mustangs this afternoon.

Lyndonville/Barker’s girls varsity soccer team made a successful debut by blanking visiting Medina 3-0 this afternoon in a non league game.

Alexa Robinson scored what proved to be the game winning late in the first half off an assist from Michayla Greene.

The Lady Tigers then put a lock on the win with a pair of second half goals by Elizabeth Whipple, off an assist from Rylan Townsend, and by Kayli Miller.

Lady Tigers goalie Alexis Dauphinee preserved the shutout by stopping a penalty kick late in the game.

It was a bit of an ironic opener as for the past five years Lyndonville and Medina players had played together as a merged team.

Medina’s Stella Poler works the ball up field against Lyndonville/Barker defender Elizabeth Whipple.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Brooke Rodas brings the ball up field for Kendall as Taylor Soule defends for Albion. The action took place during the Albion Tournament championship game this afternoon which was won by Kendall.

All of the scoring came in the second half as Kendall downed host Albion 3-0 this afternoon in the championship game of the Purple Eagles season opening girls soccer tournament.

Breaking away from a scoreless deadlock Brooke Rodas scored what proved to be the game winning goal for Kendall eight minutes into the second half.

The Lady Eagles doubled their lead when Ava Quintern tallied on a penalty kick 10 minutes later. She also scored the final goal with just 30 seconds to go.

Holley Tournament

Byron-Bergen defeated the host Lady Hawks 8-0 in the championship game of the Holley Tournament this evening as Mia Gray and Mackenzie Hagen each scored 3 goals.

Albion’s Mackenzie Snook and Kendall’s Megan Gates battle for control of the ball.

A lone first half goal proved to be enough as Medina nipped host Eden 1-0 this morning in a season opening non league boys soccer game.

Cole Callard scored the lone goal 20 minutes into the first half off an assist from Tyler Kroening.

Brady Christiaansen made 10 saves to earn the shutout in goal as the Mustangs also got a solid effort from the defensive unit of Josh Hilobuk, Mason Moreland, Bryson Costich, Cam Kenward and Trenton Morley.

The Mustangs next host O’Hara on Wednesday evening in another non league contest.

Hamburg 5, Roy-Hart 2
Jumping out to a 5-0 first half lead, Hamburg went on to defeat visiting Roy-Hart 5-2 in another non league season opener.

Roy-Hart got second half goals by Braden Ricker, off an assist from Aiden Guild, and by Peter Martillotta.

Albion evened its Niagara-Orleans League golf record at 1-1 with a 247-296 win over Roy-Hart this morning at Hickory Ridge.

Chris Sacco took medalist honors with a 46 and Drew Pritchard had a 49 to lead the way for the Purple Eagles.

Roy-Hart is now 0-4.

Albion next visits Barker on Tuesday.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Leading Medina into the up coming soccer season are these veterans who competed on last year’s merged team with Lyndonville. In front are Savannah Watts and Stella Poler. In back are Rylee VanNostrand, Ellie Roath, Olivia Eaton, Ashleigh Mowatt and Madelynn Satkowski.

After competing as a merged team with Lyndonville the past five years, Medina is fielding its own girls varsity soccer team this season which will compete in the Niagara-Orleans League.

The Mustangs are led by a group of veterans from last fall’s merged team including seniors Stella Poler, Madelynn Satkowski, Rylee VanNostrand, Ellie Roath, Olivia Eaton, Ashleigh Mowatt and junior Savannah Watts.

“We’ve got a great core of seniors to lead the team,” said Coach Jeremy Leno. “I think we’ll be alright on defense but our offense should be our strong point.”

Ironically, Medina will open the season with a non league game at Lyndonville at 4:30 this afternoon.

The Mustangs will make their return to N-O competition by hosting rival Albion on September 9.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Addison Paul goes up to spike during this evening’s season opener as Gabriella Houseknecht (9) and Cadence Lujan (7) go up to try and block for visiting Holley. Maggie Skehan backs up the play for the Lady Hawks.

Medina scored a straight set 25-11, 25-23, 25-20 win over visiting Holley this evening in a non league season opening volleyball match.

Hailey Wilkins had s key run of 9 straight service points (7-15), including 4 aces, to spark Medina to the opening set win. Lorelei Sanders scored points 22-24, including 2 aces, to help lock up the win.

Trailing 22-18, Medina rallied to take the second set as Addison Paul served up points 19-23, including 2 aces, and Sanders served up the set winner as a spiking kill by Destiny Richardson polished off the point.

Medina had jumped out to a 15-3 lead in the set as Phallon Rivera scored points 2-5 on 4 aces, and Kylie Poynter added points 7-11 including 4 aces.

However, Holley came battling back to first tie the set at 12-12 after a run of 7 straight points by Tia Hoffarth. including 4 aces, and then to take a 22-17 lead as Cadence Lujan scored points 17-22, including an ace.

Medina though took 8 of the final 9 points to take the set and a 2-0 lead in the match.

The decisive third set saw Medina jump out to a 13-6 lead as Richardson served up points 8-13, including 2 aces.

Holley again came battling back to rally into a 19-17 lead as Hoffarth served up points 17-19.

The Mustangs though again answered the challenge to win 8 of the next 9 points to lock up the set and the match. Poynter served up points 19-22 and Richardson 24 and 25 registering an an ace for the set winner.

Sanders had a total of 5 aces, Wilkins, Rivera and Poynter 4 each and Richardson 3 for Medina whir Hoffarth had 4 and Ava Quincey 3 for Holley.

Field Hockey

Iroquois scored twice in each quarter to defeat Medina 8-0 in a non league field hockey game this evening at Vets Park.

Holley’s Tia Hoffarth dives for a return as Ava Quincey supports.