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Legion gains on Hearts in Euchre League
Legion closed to within four points of the top spot by downing front-running Sacred Heart 38-32 in Medina Euchre League action Monday.
Vets Club and JR Wilson played to a 35-35 tie in the other match.
Sacred Heart is now 185-165 on the season followed closely by Legion at 181-169 with Vets Club at 170-180 and JR Wilson 164-186.
League competition continues on November 5 with Sacred Heart at Legion and JR Wilson at Vets Club.
Roy-Hart spikers romp in Class C1 semis
No.4 seeded Roy-Hart romped to a 25-11, 25-18, 25-14 victory over host No. 1 Olmstead this evening in the semifinals of the Section VI Class C1 volleyball playoffs.
Roy-Hart will now face No. 2 Eden in the championship game on Thursday evening at Jamestown Community College. Eden rolled past No. 3 Akron 25-22, 25-16, 25-9 in the other semi.
Aspen Moore had 21 kills and 2 blocks, Paige Dent 17 assists, Emilia Peracciny 16 points, including 2 aces, and 10 assists and Kristina Burdick 6 points and 10 assists.
Peracciny served up 9 points in the opening set including 17-23. She also scored points 4-9 in the second set as Moore tallied points 24-25.
The Lady Rams closed out the match with a third set win as Marissa Scott scored points 12-14 and Becky Jones 22-24.
Kendall girls seek state soccer playoff berth
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Julie Coble and her Lady Eagle teammates will face Hinsdale in the Section V Class D state qualifier game Tuesday evening at Fillmore.
Looking to earn a berth in the state girls soccer playoffs, Kendall will face Hinsdale in the Section V Class D state qualifier game at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Fillmore.
Kendall, which is 14-5 on the season, advanced by winning the Class D1 championship with a 2-1 victory over Fillmore while Hinsdale, which is 15-4, captured the Class D2 title with a 4-2 win over Andover.
“We are very excited to be playing in the State Qualifier Match on Tuesday,” said Coach Pam Barchet. “One thing that we did well on Saturday in Finals was that we were able to finish on the few attacking opportunities that we had; as long as we can capitalize on our opportunities on Tuesday and possess the ball as long as possible, we should have a good chance of winning. Also, the defense played a tremendous game for us on Saturday, especially in the 2nd half. With this positive momentum, we are very optimistic!!”
The sectional title is the first for Kendall since the Lady Eagles captured back-to-back championships in 2014 and 2015 and is the 11th overall in program history.
Kendall lost in the Section V state qualifier game in both 2014 (2-1 to Avon) and 2015 (1-0 to Cal-Mum).
The Lady Eagles last win in a state qualifier was in 2003 with a 2-1 victory over York. Kendall went on to win the Far West Regional 3-1 over Allegany-Limestone but then bowed in the state semifinals 3-2 to Elmira Notre Dame.
This season Kendall’s underclassmen dominated squad has been led offensively by junior Hailee Mitchell with 26 goals and 3 assists, freshman Grace Levett 11 goals, freshman Alezya Brown 9 goals and 4 assists and sophomore Brianna Wakefield 8 goals and 3 assists.
Junior goalie Katherine Pearson anchors the Lady Eagles defensive unit which includes junior Lizzy Sutphen and freshmen Julie Coble and T’Mia Kitchings.
Hinsdale’s offense is led by senior Kiley Tuttle with 19 goals and 15 assists as junior Ashley Chapman has 10 goals and sophomore Ava Belec 9 goals and 7 assists.
The victor will play in the Far West Regional on Saturday at Webster Thomas against North Collins which downed Franklinville 3-0 in the Section VI final.
Field Hockey final time changed
Top seeded Barker will face No. 3 Eden in the Section VI Class C field hockey championship game at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Williamsville North. The game was originally scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Sectional titles on the line this week in volleyball, girls soccer and field hockey
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-hart’s Ella Brown and her Lady Rams teammates will face top seeded Olmsted in the Class C1 semifinals on Monday evening.
No. 4 seed Roy-Hart visit No. 1 Olmsted in Buffalo in the semifinals of the Section VI Class C1 volleyball playoffs at 6 p.m.Monday.
The other C1 semi will have No. 3 Akron at No. 2 Eden.
The winners will play for the C1 title on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Jamestown Community College.
On Tuesday, Kendall will face Hinsdale for the Section V Class D berth in the state girls soccer tournament at 6 p.m. at Fillmore.
Kendall advanced by capturing the D1 title on Saturday edging Fillmore 2-1 while Hinsdale bested Andover 4-2 to claim the D2 crown.
On Thursday, top seed Barker will take on No. 3 Eden for the Section V Class C field hockey championship at 7:30 p.m. at Williamsville North.
Barker nipped No. 4 Akron 3-2 in overtime and No. Eden blanked No. 2 Roy-Hart 2-0 in the semifinals.
Holley Jr Hawks claim playoff championship
Contributed Photo – Players and coaches of the Holley Jr. Hawks JV Division team celebrate capturing the playoff championship Saturday.
The Holley Jr. Hawks JV Division team captured their first playoff title by defeating Batavia 20-13 in the Niagara Orleans Football Association (NOFA) JV Division championship game on Saturday at Medina’s Vets Park.
The Jr. Hawks offense included two touchdowns by Hunter Smith, one touchdown by Williams Kludt and a two-point conversion by Josh Slpock.
Smith and Kludt combined for over 200 yards in offense.
The Hawks defense also came up big capped off by Mason Moyer’s tackle to stop a potential tying touchdown run late. The offense then made made a big first down on a fourth down and inches play to seal the win.
Holley finishes the season at 10-1. The Jr. Hawks advanced to the finals by avenging their only loss by downing Newfane 38-35 in the semifinals.
NOFA also presented Albion JV Division coaches Joe Fuller and the Demetrius Jones with the Jim Ellegate Memorial Coach of the Year Award.
The award is given in memory of Ellegate who was a football coach for the RoyHart Rams Beginner Football Team who tragically lost his life coming home from a Football game. He was also invoked in coaching baseball and was a Cub Scout leader. The award was presented by his son, Jimmy Ellegate Jr.
Albion JV Coaches Joe Fuller, left, and Demetrius Jones, right, receive the Jim Ellegate Sr. Coach of the Year Award from his son, Jimmy Ellegate Jr.
Kendall girls capture D1 sectional soccer title
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Hailee Mitchell scored both goals in Kendall’s sectional championship win this afternoon.
An underclassmen dominated No. 4 seeded Kendall girls soccer squad trimmed No. 2 Fillmore 2-1 this afternoon to capture the Section V Class D1 championship at Perry.
Junior Hailee Mitchell scored both goals for Kendall as all of the scoring came in the first half.
Junior Katherien Pearson made 9 saves in goal for Kendall in the first half and freshman Kailie Regan 6 stops in the second half.
“We’re a young team and they’ve really exceeded expectations,” said Coach Pam Barchet. “They work so hard. They won every ball and played smart. They really stepped up.”
The sectional championship is the first since 2015 for the Lady Eagles and the 11th in the program’s history.
Kendall now faces the winner of the D1 title contest, either Andover or Hinsdale, in the Section V Class D state qualifier on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.
The Lady Eagles improve to 14-5 while Fillmore finishes at 17-1.
Section V Volleyball
Holley, Kendall and Lyndonville bow
In Section V volleyball quarterfinal matches this afternoon Kendall lost 23-25, 25-20, 25-14, 25-21 to CG Finney in Class D3; Holley bowed 25-17, 25-12, 25-15 to Warsaw in Class C2 and Lyndonville was downed 25-10, 25-18, 25-14 to York in Class D2.
Olean girls top Albion for Class B1 soccer title
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Olean’s Calista Heister leaps over Albion goalie Sydney Mulka as she stops a shot on goal as Aly Knaak follows the play. The action took place during the Purple Eagles sectional final loss to the Lady Huskies this afternoon at Williamsville East.
A two goal scoring burst late in the first half off corner kick opportunities sparked No. 7 seed Olean to a 3-0 victory over No. 4 Albion in the Section VI Class B1 girls soccer championship game at blustery, rainy Williamsville East High School this afternoon.
Justine Brooks scored what proved to be the game winner for Olean on a rebound shot off a corner with 9:55 to go in the opening half. She then scored again off a corner with just 38 seconds to go in the half.
Keeping the momentum, Olean then broke the contest open when Calista Heister scored her 56th goal of the season just 37 seconds into the second half.
Albion goalie Sydney Mulka was kept busy as she made five big saves in the first half, including a diving stop and a sliding save. She also had two more big sliding saves in the second half.
Albion finishes the season at 17-1-1 while Olean advances to the Section VI Class B state qualifier game against the B2 winner (Fredonia or Allegany/Limestone) with a 17-2-1 record.
Albion’s Kendall Derisley battles with Olean’s Alexis Gibbons for the ball.
Panthers down Mustangs in B Bowl final
A touchdown just before half-time keyed Newfane to a 15-6 win over visiting Medina/Lyndonville/Barker this afternoon in the championship game of the Class B Chuck Funke Memorial Consolation Bowl.
Garrett Srock scored on an 11 yard run with just four seconds to go in the first half to put Newfane ahead to stay. Srock also scored on a 15 yard run in the third quarter to up the Panthers lead to 15-0.
The Mustangs lone score came on a 49 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Izaiah Rhim to Brian Fry later in the third quarter.
The Mustangs also hd a good drive going deep in Newfane territory in the first half but a lost fumble at the Panthers 25 wiped out the opportunity.
On special teams, Rhim blocked a Newfane field goal attempt and defensively, Blaire Prest forced a fumble.
Newfane finishes the season at 5-4 and Medina/Lyndonville/Barker at 4-5.
Panther harriers sweep to N-O titles
Contributed Photo – Members of the Niagara-Orleans League All-League boys cross-country team, in order of their finish, includes, from right to left, Austin Burkhard (Newfane), Robert Stevenson (Newfane), Peter DiLorenzo (Barker), Casey Zuba (Akron), William Schwarzmueller (Wilson), Alan Lingle (Newfane) and Ozzy Moore (Roy-Hart).
Contributed Photo – The N-O girls All-League first team, in order of finish, includes, from right to left, Kim Goerss (Newfane), Anna Rickard (Roy-Hart), Alanna Holman (Albion), Catalina Ersing (Newfane), Vanessa Burkard (Newfane), Lauren Wagner (Akron) and Lydia Chunco (Newfane).
Keeping the momentum from undefeated (6-0) regular seasons, Newfane captured top honors at the annual All-League meet today at Lakeside Beach State Park to lock up the Niagara-Orleans League boys and girls cross-country titles.
The Newfane boys garnered 28 points to win the meet as Wilson was second with 65 followed by Barker 75, Akron 100, Roy-Hart 108 and Medina 164.
The Lady Panthers likewise took first place with 25 points as Akron was a distant second with 75 followed by Barker 82, Albion 91, Roy-Hart 129, Medina 145 and Wilson 165.
Newfane’s duo of Austin Burkard (17:31.8) and Robert Stevenson finished 1-2 to lead the Panthers.
Barker’s Peter DiLorenzo finished third, Akron’s Casey Zuba fourth, Wilson’s William Schwarzmueller fifth, Newfane’s Alan Lingle sixth and Roy-Hat’s Ozzy Moore seventh to round out the first All-League team.
The second All-League team includes Newfane’s Nick Baes (8th), Nathan Moran (11th), Connor Cuzzacrea (13th) and Andrew Cuzzacrea (14th) along with Barker’s Dominic Clementi (9th), Wilson’s Jonathan Moote (10th) and Albion’s Reuben Rivers (12th).
The Honorable Mention runners include Wilson’s Michael Seeley (15th), Roy-Hart’s William Rickard (16th), Wilson’s Alexander Martinez (17th), Newfane’s Gannon Gibson (18th), Akron’s Zachary Sanford (19th), Newfane’s Matthew Pusateri (20th) and Newfane’s Alden Gibson (21st).
Newfane’s Kim Goerss successfully defended her title by winning the girls race in 19:35.9 as Roy-Hart’s Anna Rickard placed second and Albion’s Alanna Holman third.
Newfane’s trio of Catalina Ersing (4th), Vanessa Burkard (5th) and Lydia Chunco (7th) along with Akron’s Lauren Wagner (6th) completes the first All-League team.
The second All-League team includes Newfane’s quartet of Marina Ersing (8th), Leah Siegmann (9th), Nina Burkard (12th) and Shelby Nerber (13th) along with the Akron duo of Madison Jimerson (10th) and Kaila Szczygielski (11th) and Barker’s Lucinda Ingro (14th).
The Honorable Mention runners include Akron’s Kayla Murray (15th), Barker’s Lydia Samson (16th), Barker’s Haleigh Mason (17th), Barker’s Gabby Baker (18th), Roy-Hart’s Kelsey Ciemny (19th), Albion’s Malory Adams (20th) and Albion’s Emma Mathes (21st).
Newfane sweeps at N-O league cross country meet
Photos by Tom Rivers: Austin Burkard, left, and Robert Stevenson race to the finish in the last stretch of today’s Niagara-Orleans All-League meet at Lakeside Beach State Park.
Goerss is 4-time champ; Newfane freshman wins boys race
Austin Burkard just edged Robert Stevenson at the finish line.
WATERPORT – Newfane’s girls and boys cross country teams were repeat winners today in the Niagara-Orleans All-League meet at Lakeside Beach State Park, Both the girls and boys completed undefeated (12-0) Niagara-Orleans championship cross-country seasons.
Newfane also had the top finishers in the boys and girls races. Kim Goerss, a senior, won the race for the fourth straight year, with her best time at Lakeside, 19:35. Austin Burkard, a freshman, edged his teammate Robert Stevenson, a senior, at the finish. Burkard won in 17:31.8 with Stevenson at 17:32.6.
The Newfane boys had 28 points, followed by Wilson in second with 65. Barker was third in 75, followed by Akron in fourth at 100, Roy-Hart in fifth at 108, Medina in sixth at 164 and Albion, which didn’t field a full team of five runners.
Burkard held the lead for most of the race. Mike Heitzenrater, the Newfane coach, said Burkard has been getting faster throughout the season.
“He put it all out there,” Heitzenrater said about Burkard.
After the 1-2 Newfane finish, the top 7 finishers, which comprise the All-League first team, were Peter DiLorenzo of Barker (17:41), Casey Zuba of Akron (17:43), William Schwarzmueller of Wilson (17:49), Alan Lingle of Newfane ((17:52) and Ozzy Moore of Roy-Hart (17:53).
The All-League second team (the 8-14 finishers) includes, in order of their finish, Nick Baes of Newfane, Dominic Clementi of Barker, Jonathan Moote of Wilson, Nathan Moran of Newfane, Reuben Rivers of Albion, Connor Cuzzacrea of Newfane and Andrew Cuzzacrea of Newfane.
Kim Goerss of Newfane got out to an early lead and held off Anna Rickard of Roy-Hart and Alanna Holman of Albion.
The Newfane girls made it four straight championships with a score of 25, followed by runner-up Akron at 72. Barker was third with 82, and Albion was fourth with 91. Roy-Hart was fifth at 129, followed by Medina at 145 and Wilson at 165.
Newfane had five of the top eight spots with Goerss leading the way. She won the race by nearly a minute. She has been first-team All-League since seventh grade.
Goerss said she put in extra training over the summer to get ready for this season and that work is paying off.
“I enjoy the team atmosphere and everyone pushing themselves,” she said about her team.
Her coach said Goerss has taken her times to a new level this season.
“It’s her hard work and determination, and her focus,” Heitzenrater said.
Anna Rickard of Roy-Hart was second in the girls race at a time of 20:32, followed by Alanna Holman of Albion in third (20:44). The other first-team all-stars include Catalena Ersing of Newfane (20:48), Vanessa Burkard of Newfane (21:10), Lauren Wagner of Akron (21:17) and Lydia Chunco of Newfane (21:22).
The All-League second team (the 8-14 finishers) includes, in order of their finish, Marina Ersing of Newfane, Leah Siegmann of Newfane, Madison Jimerson of Akron, Kaila Szczygielski of Akron, Nina Burkard of Newfane, Shelby Nerber of Newfane and Lucinda Ingro of Barker.
Peter DiLorenzo of Barker sprints to finish third in the race, just ahead of Casey Zuba of Akron.
