Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Veteran members of the Medina boys varsity soccer team include, in front, Izzy Anderson, Gavin Dahlhaus, Aleks Seefeldt, Aidan Papaj, River Jones and Colvin Poole. In back are Cam Fike, Bryson Ford, Owen Sargent, Braden Lewis and Lathan McEwen-Miller.

Runners-up the last three years, Medina returns a good nucleus of 11 veterans with which to again challenge for top Niagara-Orleans League boys soccer honors.

Medina went 8-2 in the league (16-3 overall) last fall to finish second in the N-O title race to Wilson for the third year in a row.

Leading the Mustangs veteran group are first team N-O All-League honorees seniors Aidan Papaj and Aleks Seefeldt along with Honorable Mention selections juniors Izzy Anderson and Bryson Ford. Seefeldt had 16 goals and 19 assists and Papaj 15 goals and 5 assists last fall.

The Mustangs veterans also include seniors Cam Fike, Gavin Dahlhaus, River Jones, Lathan McEwen-Miller, Brayden Lewis and Colvin Poole along with junior Owen Sargent. Goalies Fike and Jones will anchor the defense.

“”We have a good group back but the key for us overall will be balance, especially on offense,” said Coach Steve Luksch. “Balance will be the key. We need several guys to pick up the offense.”

Medina will open the season by hosting Park School in a non league game at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday before beginning N-O competition at Akron on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Lena Grillo drives the ball toward the goal during this evening’s Purple Eagles Tournament championship game against Attica.

An early goal proved to be just enough to earn Attica a 1-0 win over the host Purple Eagles this evening in the championship game of the Albion girls soccer tournament.

Aleah Brauen scored the lone goal for the Blue Devils just 12 minutes into the opening half.

Consolation Game
Barker/Lyndonville 2, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba 1
Barker/Lyndonville edged Oakfield-Alabama/Elba 2-1 in the consolation game of the Albion Tournament.

Alexa Robinson scored late in the first half and Abby Alexander early in the second half for Barker/Lyndonville. Robinson also assisted on Alexander’s goal.

Avalynn Buczek scored for Oakfield-Alabama/Elba late in the second half.

Tonawanda Tournament
Wilson 4, Roy-Hart/Medina 0
Wilson shutout Niagara-Orleans League foe Roy-Hart/Medina 4-0 in the championship game of the Tonawanda girls soccer tournament this afternoon.

Lilly Gurski, Lucy Madan, Abigal Labarre and Addison Elia each scored a goal for the Lakewomen.

Barker/Lyndonville’s Alexa Robinson battles for control of the ball with Allison Harkness of Oakfield-Alabama/Elba.

Holley dropped a 36-6 decision at South Seneca this afternoon in a season opening non league football game.

Joey Tombari scored the touchdown for the Hawks.

Holley’s home opener will be next Saturday against Avon at 1 p.m.

Opening the season on a very high note, Holley edged Lake George 1-0 at the Albany Hall of Fame girls soccer tournament this afternoon at St. Johnsville near Herkimer.

Ava Mosier scored the game’s lone goal off an assist from Philomena Arnold as the Lady Hawks upended the Lakers which were ranked No. 5 in the state last fall.

Zoey Warner made three saves in goal to earn the shutout for the Lady Hawks.

“It was a great effort by the entire team,: said Coach Renee Wolf.

Holley will next face Frankfort-Schuyler at Central Valley High in Illion on Sunday.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Newfane’s Mikey Henning goes high to haul in a pass against Barker/Roy-Hart defender Jeff Waters during the Panthers win over Bulls this evening at Barker.

A big three touchdown scoring burst to close the first half keyed Newfane to a come-from-behind 50-26 win over Barker/Roy-Hart in a season opening interdivisional football game this evening at Barker.

Trailing 18-7 midway through the second quarter, Newfane rallied into the lead for good by a 28-18 margin at the half as Nasir Spencer scored three touchdowns on a 46 yard run, a recovery of a blocked punt in the endzone and a 18 yard pass from quarterback Jesse Hughey with just 5 seconds to go in the half.

The Panthers quickly upped their advantage to 17 points at 35-18 on a 1 yard touchdown run by Camryn Stover three minutes into the third quarter.

Newfane maintained a 17 point, 43-26, lead at the end of the third period as a touchdown run by Mikey Henning offset a Barker/Roy-Hart tally by Carter DerSarkissian.

Jake Morello rounded out the Panthers scoring with a 40 yard TD run late in the final period to make the final 50-26.

Roy-Hart had built up the 18-7 advantage on a 13 yard scoring pass from quarterback Max Townsend to DerSarkissian and an 8 yard TD run by Owen Maedl in the first quarter and  a 23 yard field goal by Billy Jaques early in the second quarter. The Bulls also got a two-point conversion run by DerSarkissian and a PAT kick by Jaques during that stretch.

However, the Bulls could score only one more touchdown the rest of the way.

Barker/Roy-Hart will next visit Tonawanda in the C North Division opener next Friday while Newfane will host Randoph in a D Division opener also on Friday.

Carter DerSarkissian dives for a touchdown  for Barker/Roy-Hart between Newfane defenders Dylan Stopa and Chance Burrows.

Newfane’s Camryn Stover works to get away from Barker/Roy-Hart defender Owen Maedl.

Roy-Hart/Medina downed the host school 3-1 today in the opening round of the season opening Tonawanda girls soccer tournament.

Ruth Walker, Alexa Demmer and Maria Trombley each scored a goal for Roy-Hart/Medina which will now face a very familiar foe – Niagara-Orleans League rival Wilson – in the championship game at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Wilson downed Dunkirk 8-0 in the other semifinal. Zoey Beck, Lilly Gurski and Colbie Elia each had 2 goals for Wilson.

Albion Tournament
The host Purple Eagles will face Attica in the championship game of the Albion girls soccer tournament at 6:45 p.m. Saturday.

Barker/Lyndonville will take on Oakfield-Alabama in the consolation game at 4:45 p.m.

Albion downed Barker/Lyndonville 2-1 and Attica bested Oakfield-Alabama 5-2 in the semifinals on Thursday.

Boys Soccer
Niagara Falls 2, Roy-Hart 1
Michael Fuller scored the lone goal for Roy-Hart in the Rams narrow 2-1 loss to host Niagara Falls in a non league game this afternoon.

Park School edged Lyndonville/Barker 2-1 in a non league season opening boys soccer game Thursday.

Jesus Reyes scored the goal for Lyndonville/Barker off an assist from Amir Zimmerman.

Volleyball
Alden d. Medina
Alden downed visiting Medina 25-9, 25-17, 25-19 in a season opening non league volleyball match Thursday.

Maya Anderson, Sam Heschke and Teagan Balaban each had 2 aces for Medina. Anderson also had 2 kills and Payton Denniston 1.

Newfane d. Kendall
Newfane bested visiting Kendall 25-12, 25-14, 25-16 in another non league match.

Emma Johnston had 7 aces, 6 kills and 2 blocks, Julia Leibring 8 kills and Sara Klinger 5 kills for Newfane.

Emma Minster had 6 service points for Kendall.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Elijah Doxey scores the Albion/Medina OC Rivals historic first touchdown during this evening’s debut victory at Akron.

Making a sparkling debut, Albion/Medina romped to a 32-0 lightning shortened victory over host Akron this evening kicking off the OC Rivals inaugural football season.

Lightning stopped the game with 7 minutes to go in the third quarter after Albion/Medina had built up a commanding  32-0 half-time advantage.

Albion/Medina took an 8-0 lead in the first quarter as Elijah Doxey scored the OC Rivals historic first touchdown on a 7 yard run. Quarterback Preston Woodworth hooked up with Noah Harrison for the two-point conversion pass.

The OC Rivals then broke the contest wide open by exploding for three touchdowns in the second quarter on runs of 5 yards by Jayzon Wills, 15 yards by Doxey and a 55 yard pass interception return by Jaxon Lynch. Harrison had a pair of two-point conversion runs and Wills one during that stretch.

Runs of 18 and 10 yards by Woodworth and 10 by Doxey highlighted the first TD drive and a big 45 yard run by Wills keyed the second.

Much of the quarter was played in a torrential downpour.

The defense also came up big in the opening half as Wills, Ryan Frentz and Matthew Jacobs all had sacks and Wills a tackle for loss.

“We’re very pleased with the way things went,” said Head Coach Eric Valley. “The field conditions slowed the game down for sure but our kids played great defense and we were able to move the ball using multiple backs.”

Albion/Medina next faces Lake Shore next Friday night at 7 at Medina’s Vets Park.

Jaxon Lynch heads to the endzone on a 55 yard pass interception return for the OC Rivals.

Jayzon Wills picks up yardage for the OC Rivals behind a block by Noah Harrison.

The host Purple Eagles edged Barker/Lyndonville 2-1 this evening in the opening round of the Albion girls soccer tournament.

Ava Woolston and Madison Frasier each scored a goal for Albion.

Alexa Robinson netted the Barker/Lyndonville goal.

The tournament will conclude on Saturday evening.

Boys Soccer
Pembroke 5, Albion 1
Pembroke downed visiting Albion 5-1 in a non league game.

Garret Jones scored the Albion goal off an assist from Anakin Bowman.

Volleyball
Holley d. Wheatland-Chili
Holley downed Wheatland-Chili in three sets as Averie Johnson had 8 aces and 2 kills and Brianna Pellegrino 7 aces.

Oakfield-Alabama d. Roy-Hart
Oakfield-Alabama downed Roy-Hart in four sets 25-21, 21-25, 25-22, 25-17
Lauren Snyder had 8 kills, Tessa Degenhardt 5 kills and Zoe Healey 4 kills for Roy-Hart.

Scoring a straight set victory, Lyndonville bested host CSAT 25-14, 25-15, 25-20 in a season opening non league volleyball match Wednesday evening.

The Lady Tigers had plenty of contributors both at the service line and at the net as Leah Kenyon had 4 aces, 4 kills, 3 blocks; Hannah Fox 3 aces, 3 kills, 8 assists; Isabella Bresett 3 aces, 1 kill; Sarah Corser 2 aces, 1 kill; Destinee Holmes 3 aces, 1 kill; Grace Fox 1 ace, 1 kill; Elizabeth Gonzalez Moore 1 kill and Andrea Garza 2 kills.

Lyndonville will open the Genesee Region League season at home on September 8 against Wheatland-Chili.