Rebounding from an early 2-0 deficit, Albion battled back to defeat visiting Newfane 4-2 this evening in a season opening Niagara-Orleans League girls soccer game.

Albion cut the deficit to 2-1 before halftime on a goal by Abby Scanlan.

The Purple Eagles then rallied into a 3-2 lead on two second half goals by Nicki Creasey, both off assists from Scanlan.

A penalty kick goal by Leah Pritchard then put a lock on the win for Albion.

The Purple Eagles next visit Roy-Hart at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Roy-Hart 2, Akron 1

Roy-Hart likewise rallied from a 1-0 deficit to edge past visiting defending champion Akron 2-1.

Akron grabbed a 1-0 lead on a goal by Kara Sequin but Roy-Hart rallied into a tie before halftime on a tally by Kara Choate.

The Lady Rams then claimed the win as Reanna Perkins scored midway through the second half off an assist from Grace Parker.

Wilson 9, Barker 0

In the other N-O opener Wilson downed host Barker 9-0.

Staying in the thick of the title chase, Newfane posted a 239-292 win over Roy-Hart this afternoon in a Niagara-Orleans League golf match at Shelridge.

Newfane improves to 5-1 to stay within a game of front-running Akron (5-0)

Sam Capen took medalist honors for Newfane with a 41 as Trevor Heschke added a 44.

McCarthy Lang shot 49 for Roy-Hart which slips to 0-6.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Jay Heideman of Roy-Hart is ahead of Reuben Rivers of Albion in the trails at the Wilson-Tuscarora State Park. Heideman finished first in the race and Rivers was second among runners from three schools that also included Wilson.

Albion and Medina both scored victories on the road this afternoon to open the Niagara-Orleans League boys cross-country season.

Albion defeated host Wilson 26-29 and Roy-Hart 24-34. Wilson also defeated Roy-Hart 25-31.

Reuben Rivers finished second and Landin Chaffee fifth to lead the way for Albion.

Roy-Hart’s Jay Heideman won the race and Wilson’s Al Schultz finished third.

Medina defeated host Akron 21-38 behind the 1-3-4 finish of Arian Cayea, Gabe Mark and Alwyn Cayea.

Akron’s John Chubb finished second.

Defending champion Newfane defeated visiting Barker 19-44 in the other boys meet as Jayden Reynolds won the race for the Panthers.

In the N-O girls openers Albion defeated Roy-Hart 15-50, Wilson downed Roy-Hart 15-40 and Albion 26-29; Akron bested Medina 15-50 and Newfane topped Barker 15-49.

Albion’s Alanna Holman took first place honors in the tri meet at Wilson. Melissa Robinson finished second for the Purple Eagles followed by the Wilson trio of Jackie Thompson, Kylie Healy and Cassidy Wagner.

Akron was paced by the 1-2-3 finish of Lauren Wagner, Kayla Muuray and Kaila Szczygielski.

Newfane’s Kylie Bowman took top honors in the win over Barker.

Albion’s Alanna Holman, left, and Melissa Robinson were the top two finishers in today’s girls race with runners from Albion, Roy-Hart and host Wilson. 

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Madison Gancasz scores the Lady Raiders first goal this afternoon against visiting Medina. Also shown are Barker’s Natalie Bruning (10) and Mia Herman (1) and Medina’s Dakota Alexander

Scoring a goal in each of the first three quarters, Barker opened defense of its Niagara-Orleans League field hockey title with a 3-0 win over visiting Medina this afternoon.

Madison Gancasz scored what proved to be the game winning goal for Barker with 5:55 to go in the opening quarter.

Laci Giarla doubled the Lady Raiders advantage when she scored at 5:03 of the second quarter off an assist from Natalie Bruning.

Gancasz rounded out the Barker scoring with a goal at 5:49 of the third quarter.

Barker next hosts Wilson and Medina visits Akron at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Click here to view some first half game action.

Roy-Hart 7, Wilson 0

Lexiss Diel and Cheyene Stilwell each scored three goals and Ashton Becker one to lead Roy-Hart to a 7-0 victory over host Wilson.

Diel also had two assists as Mandy Hill, Miah Glena and Claire Halstead each added one.

Lorne Becker earned the shutout in goal.

Roy-Hart next visits Newfane at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

Newfane lost 2-1 to Kenmore in the other N-O opener.

Barker’s Natalie Bruning reaches for the ball against Medina defender Emma Wagner and goalie Arianna Bloom.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Derek Edick works to advance the ball up field against Holley defender Charlie Turpyn during early first half action of the Eagles double overtime loss to the host rival Hawks this evening.

Opening the Genesee Region League boys soccer season in exciting fashion, Holley rallied from a two goal deficit in the second half to down visiting rival Kendall 4-3 in double overtime this evening.

Down by as much as 3-1 in the second half, Holley rallied into a tie on goals by Lorenzo Zaragoza and by Kayden Servais who netted the equalizer with five minutes to go in regulation time.

The Hawks then earned the victory when Nathan Nothnagle scored with 2:43 to go in the second overtime period. Nothnagle also scored the Hawks first goal of the evening. He also had an assist as did Kalen Brady.

Kendall had built up the 3-1 lead on two goals by Derek Edick and one by Mike McCue.

Holley next hosts Attica and Kendall visits Wheatland-Chili at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’ defender Chris Shabazz works to clear the ball out of the Purple Eagles end during this evening’s overtime loss to visiting Newfane.

Newfane rallied late to nip host Albion 2-1 in overtime this evening in a season opening Niagara-Orleans League boy soccer game.

Albion grabbed a 1-0 lead when Alex Gibson scored with just six minutes to go in the second half.

However, Newfane battled back to tie the game on a goal with only 1:40 remaining.

The Panthers then claimed the win with a goal on a rebound shot off a penalty kick opportunity with 7:35 to go in the overtime period.

In another N-O opener, Akron defeated visiting Roy-Hart 4-1.

Albion will next visit Roy-Hart at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday while Akron will travel to Wilson at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Russell Stephens heads the ball toward the goal for Medina/Lyndonville during the Mustangs season opening non league win over Cardinal O’Hara this afternoon at Lyndonville.

Building up a 3-0 half-time advantage, Medina/Lyndonville went on to defeat visiting Cardinal O’Hara 7-0 in a season opening non league boys soccer game this afternoon on Lyndonville’s newly renovated field.

Nathan Dillenbeck scored the three goal hat-trick in the first half to put the Mustangs in command. He scored a quick goal just 1:54 in off an assist from Alex Barry, He then tallied on a header off an assist from Aidan Burczyk at 19:31 and finally scored on a shot from close range at 8:12 as Brian Fry earned the assist.

Four different players then scored for the Mustangs in the second half.  Dan Mandujano tallied just four minutes in off  an assist from AJ Seefeldt. Dillenbeck then scored unassisted a minute later. Sam Kingsbury then tallied from Mandujano and finally Burczyk tallied off an assist from Fry.

Zach Fike earned the shutout in goal for the Mustangs. Click here to check out first half game action with Dillenebeck’s third goal.

The Mustangs will next open defense of their Niagara-Orleans League title by hosting Newfane at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Casey Winiecki looks drive around a O’Hara defender for the Mustangs.

Medina knocked Niagara-Orleans League golf co-leader Newfane from the ranks of the unbeaten by a narrow 240-243 margin this afternoon at Shelridge.

Aiden Paul took medalist honors for Medina with a 41 as Mitchell Silversmith added a 43 and Dylan Lonnen a 49.

Sam Capen and Trevor Heschke both shot 43 for Newfane.

The loss drops Newfane to 4-1 while Medina improves to 5-2.

Undefeated (5-0) Akron took over sole possession of first place with a 233-270 win over Barker (13-1) as Drew Romesser earned medalist honors with a 44.

In the other N-O action, Albion earned a split at Hickory Ridge as the Purple Eagles defeated Roy-Hart 309-324 but lost to Wilson 284-309.

Wilson is now 2-2-1, Albion 1-4 and Roy-Hart 0-5.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Several members of Medina’s veteran contingent including Issac Pace, Alwyn Cayea, Gabe Mark, Arian Cayea and Aedan Bunch warm up for Tuesday’s league opening meet.

With their lineup returning nearly intact the Medina boys cross-country team is looking to start improving upon last year’s 1-5 Niagara-Orleans League when the Mustangs open the season at Akron on Tuesday.

The Mustangs veteran contingent includes seniors Cameron Castanon, Aedan Bunch, and Alwyn Cayea, juniors Arian Cayea and Issac Pace and sophomore Gabe Mark.

“The boys are all back so we should be fairly strong,” said Coach Christian Held. ” I’m really excited for the boys. They really enjoy running and they challenge each other.”

Senior Suvi Biesinger leads the Medina girls squad.

The trio of junior Reuben Rivers, freshman Landin Chaffee and senior Josh DePoty lead the Albion boys squad which is likewise looking to improve on last fall’s 0-6 record.

Senior Alanna Holman, who placed fifth at the All-League meet, leads the Albion girls squad.

Albion will open the season at Wilson on Tuesday in a tri meet which also includes Roy-Hart.

Tuesday’s other opener will have Barker at defending champion Newfane