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Medina spikers earn home sectional opener
Medina has earned the No. 2 seed for the Section VI Class B-2 volleyball playoffs and will host a quarterfinal round contest at 6 p.m. Friday.
The Mustangs, which went 7-3 in Niagara-Orleans League competition this season, will host the winner of Wednesday’s pre quarterfinal match which will have No. 10 Albion at No. 7 Dunkirk.
Another Class B-2 quarterfinal match on Friday will have No. 6 Newfane at No. 3 Tonawanda.
Class C-1 matches on Friday will have No. 8 Southwestern at No. 1 Akron, No. 5 Gowanda at No. 4 Wilson and No. 6 Roy-Hart at No. 3 Olmsted.
Barker wins thriller in marathon shootout
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Natalie Menz watches as her game winning goal goes in the cage during the Lady Raiders sudden death shootout victory over Eden this evening at Vets Park.
No. 2 seed Barker had to go to a sudden death shootout round to nip No. 7 Eden 1-0 in the quarterfinal round of the Section VI Class C field hockey playoffs this evening at Vets Park.
The contest went scoreless through 60 minutes of regulation play and two 10 minute overtime periods. Both teams then scored once in each of the first two rounds of the shootout setting the stage for the sudden death round.
Barker goalie Cara Fox, who did yeoman work making saves in the cage throughout the shootout, made the stop on Eden’s first shooter in the sudden death round.
Barker’s first shooter, Natalie Menz, then finally ended the marathon contest when she scored on a rebound after her initial shot was stopped.
Barker goalie Cara Fox stops an advance by Eden shooter Savannah Battleson in the shootout.
“That was a marathon. I’ve never been a part of one like that,” said Barker Caoch Jeff Costello who cited the strong effort by his goalie. “You can’t ask for anything better from your goalie than that.”
Barker had a whopping 10-0 advantage in corner opportunities in the first half of regulation play but could not score. The Lady Raiders also couldn’t capitalize on three more corners in the second half or on two in each of the two 7 on 7 overtime periods.
In the first round of the shootout, Eden took a 1-0 lead on a goal by the third of their five shooters Savannah Battleson.
Barker though quickly knotted the contest as the Lady Raiders fourth shooter, Ciara Gregoire, scored on a rebound after her initial shot was blocked.
The 1-1 deadlock sent the contest into a second shootout round where Barker took a 2-1 lead as Menz, their second shooter, tallied.
This time it was Eden which answered right back getting a goal from their third shooter Emma Cooper to retie the contest at 2-2, a tally that ended up forcing a sudden death shootout round as Barker’s final shooter missed on a penalty stroke.
Improving to 16-1 overall, Barker finally claimed by exciting victory in sudden death as Fox made the save on Eden’s first shooter and Menz followed up by scoring on the Lady Raiders first opportunity.
Barker next faces No. 3 Roy-Hart in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Clarence.
Roy-Hart blanked No. 6 Wilson 2-0 as Miah Glena scored with just 1:12 remaining in the first half off an assist from Lexi Lovewell and then Ashley Hill tallied midway through the second half from Jayden Townsend.
Jenna Bower earned the shutout in goal for the Lady Rams.
In the other quarterfinal, No. 4 Holland defeated visiting No. 5 Medina 3-0 to earn a Wednesday semifinal meeting with No. 1 Akron at 5:30 p.m. at Clarence.
Barker’s Ciara Gregoire scores the Lady Raiders first goal in the shootout from the seat of her skirt.
Albion caps undefeated JV football season
Contributed Photo – Albion JV football players and coaches celebrate achieving an undefeated season. The Purple Eagles completed a perfect 8-0 season by defeating Akron 30-0 this past Saturday. The Purple Eagles outscored their opponents 216-32 on the season registering three shutouts including a 32-0 victory over rival Medina. This is Albion’s first undefeated JV team since 2009. The Purple Eagles went 7-1 last year.
Medina Colts score playoff semifinal win
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Christian Moss picks up yardage for the Medina Colts during Saturday’s semifinal playoff win over Newfane at Vets Park.
The Medina Colts edged Newfane 14-13 Saturday in the semifinal round of the Niagara Orleans Football Association (NOFA) Mini Division playoffs at Vets Park.
Christian Moss had 93 yards rushing, including a 36 yard touchdown carry, quarterback Preston Woodworth completed 6 of 7 passes for 116 yards including a touchdown and a two-point conversion and Trey Shine had 3 receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown to lead the Colts attack. Avion Johnson also had 2 receptions for 18 yards and Mackoy Hall 1 for 18 yards.
On defense, Elijah Doxey had 8 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery, Moss 7 tackles and 1 sack, Shine 8 tackles, Ben Doolan 6 and Steston Hall 3.
The Colts will play Batavia in the championship game at 11 a.m. Saturday.
In the JV Division semis the Medina Clts lost to Attica 33-16 and in the Varsity Division the Medina Stallions were blanked by Tri Town 42-0.
Rashawn Bloom had 6 tackles for the Stallions, Izell Satkowski and Anthony Monell 5, Hayden Woodroe, Noah Skinner and Lavoon Guy 4 and Zachary Oliver Davon Shine and Colvin Stalker 3 each.
Albion, Kendall, Holley set for soccer semis
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – The Albion and Kendall girls soccer teams have both advanced to the sectional semifinals this week. Albion’s Kendall Derisley and Kendall’s Lyndsay Wright are shown here in action during a recent non league meeting. The Holley boys squad has also advanced to the semis.
The Albion and Kendall girls teams and the Holley boys squad will all be competing in the semifinal round of the soccer sectional playoffs this week.
No. 8 seed Albion will face No. 5 Alden in the Section VI Class B-1 semifinals at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Williamsville North. Niagara-Orleans League champion No. 2 seed Newfane will take on No. 6 Olean in the first semi at Will North at 6 p.m.
Now at 10-6-2, Albion advanced by defeating top seed City Honors 3-1 in the quarterfinals while Alden blanked I Prep 6-0. Newfane edged Springville 3-2 in another quarterfinal.
No. 4 Kendall will face Genesee Region League foe top seeded Wheatland-Chili in the Section V Class D-1 semifinals at 6 p.m. Wednesday at a site to be announced.
Kendall, which advanced to the semis by downing Bishop Kearney 3-1 to improve to 14-4, lost to W-C by a 3-1 score during the G-R season.
No. 3 Holley will face No. 2 Williamson in a Section V Class C-1 semifinal at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Webster Thomas.
The Hawks nipped G-R foe No. 6 Pembroke 1-0 in double overtime in the quarterfinals to improve to 9-5-3.
Williamson blanked No. 7 Marcus Whitman 6-0 in the quarterfinals.
Section VI Class C field hockey playoffs get underway on Monday with three quarterfinal contests including No. 5 Medina (5-7) at No. 4 Holland (7-8-1) and No. 6 Wilson (5-7) at No. 3 Roy-Hart (8-4), both at 3 p.m., and No. 7 Eden (5-10-1) vs. No. 2 Barker (11-1) at Medina’s Vets Park at 6:30 p.m.
The semifinals on Wednesday will have the Medina/Holland winner taking on top seeded Akron (11-1) and the Wilson/Roy-Hart winner facing the Eden/Barker winner.
On the gridiron, Holley and Medina/Lyndonville will both take to the road Thursday for bowl game final contests.
Holley will visit G-R foe Attica at 5:30 p.m. in the Section V Class C-1 Connors and Ferris Bowl championship game.
Medina/Lyndonville will take on Olean in the Class B Chuck Funke Memorial Bowl title contest at Piioneer High at 7:45 p.m.
The pairings for the Section VI volleyball playoffs are slated to be announced on Monday.
Albion youth gridders reach playoff finals
A last second touchdown earned the Albion Eagles an 18-13 victory over Batavia Saturday in the Niagara Orleans Football Association (NOFA) Varsity Division playoff semifinals at Medina’s Vets Park.
A 1 yard touchdown run by Amari Jones with 12 seconds left gave Albion the exciting win.
A huge fourth down stop by the Albion defense on Batavia’s own 19 yard line with 1:53 set up the final drive.
A 15 yard reception by Shakarion Drisdom followed by runs by Jahmeek Riley and Chris Porter then set up the game winning touchdown.
Riley led the rushing attack with 73 yards and Javon Jones had 97 yards receiving.
On defense, Amari Jones led the defense with 6 tackles and 2 interceptions. Anthony Borrero had 5 tackles, Luck Cornick an interception and Jabari Johnson ended the game with a sack.
Albion will now face Tri Town in a battle of 10-0 teams for the championship at 3 p.m. Saturday at Vets Park.
Tri Town blanked Medina 42-0 in the other semi.
The Mini Division final at 11 a.m. will have Batavia (10-0) vs. Medina (9-1) while the JV Division title game at 1 p.m. will have Newfane (8-2) vs. Attica (7-3).
The Mini Divison semis saw Medina nip Newfane 14-13 and Batavia blank Pembroke 28-0.
The JV Division semis had Attica downing Medina 33-16 and Newfane edging Batavia 20-12.
Holley nips Pembroke in OT sectional thriller
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Kayden Servais, who scored the game winning goal, here takes a shot as Cyle Felski comes in to defend for Pembroke during the Hawks double overtime sectional victory this evening.
In a wild finish, No. 3 seed Holley scored with only three seconds remaining in the second 15 minute overtime period to nip visiting No. 6 Pembroke 2-1 this evening in the quarterfinals of the Section V Class C-1 boys soccer playoffs.
Holley sent everyone crashing to the net on the play which started with a corner by Andrew Moseman. In the wild scramble which ensued Kayden Servais was credited with scoring the goal off an assist from Matt Wilson.
Holley’s Matt DeSimone battles for control of the ball with Pembroke’s Casey Shaw during the host Hawks overtime sectional win this evening.
“Everyone was up there crashing,” said Holley Coach Dan Orbaker. “It’s wonderful for the boys. It’s pretty good to get that ‘W'”.
Holley grabbed a 1-0 lead early in the first half as Erik Balys scored off an assist from Moseman.
However, Pembroke battled back to knot the contest on a goal by Sunny Kittisack with 18:03 remaining in the second half.
Regulation play ended deadlocked at 1-1 and neither team could score in the first 15 minute overtime.
However, the action picked up in the second overtime.
First, Holley had one shot rattle off the cross bar and another just miss the net off a corner.
Pembroke answered back with strong pressure as Holley goalie Patrick Bower had to make two clutch diving saves in the final four minutes before the Hawks finally scored the game winner in the final three seconds.
The Hawks and Dragons had played to a pair of one goal decisions during the Genesee Region League season. Each team won on their home field as Pembroke took the first 3-2 in overtime and Holley the second 1-0.
The victory advances Holley, whih improves to 9-5-3, to the semifinals next Wednesday against No. 2 Williamson which downed No. 7 Marcus Whitman 6-0 .
Holley’s Andrew Moseman brings the ball up field as DeSimone supports and Pembroke’s Patrick Wolford is along side.
Kendall girls down Kearney to gain semis
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Hailee Mitchell tries to keep the ball away from Bishop Kearney’s Amata Valentini during the host Lady Eagles sectional win this evening.
Rebounding from an early deficit, No. 4 seed Kendall rallied to defeat visiting No. 12 Bishop Kearney 3-1 this evening in the quarterfinals of the Section V Class D-1 girls soccer playoffs.
Improving to 14-4, Kendall now faces No. 1 Wheatland-Chili, a 4-0 victor over No. 8 Alfred-Almond, in the semifinals next Wednesday at a site to be determined. W-C downed Kendall 3-1 during the Geneesee Region League season.
Kendall’s Taylor ReQua brings the ball up field.
Kearney grabbed a 1-0 lead when Kaia Goode scored on a breakaway with 11:49 remaining in the first half.
However, Kendall answered right back with a pair of goals in the final four minutes to the half to move on top for good.
Kendall knotted the contest on a penalty kick goal byTaylor ReQua with 4:47 to go. The Lady Eagles then took the lead on a goal by Michela Hanlon with just 40 seconds remaining on a rebound shot off a corner kick by ReQua.
That same combination Hanlon from ReQua later added an insurance goal midway through the second half.
Katherine Pearson made 5 saves to earn the win in goal for the Lady Eagles.
The Lady Eagles also downed Kearney by a narrow 1-0 margin early in the season at the Kendall Tournament.
Kendall’s Michela Hanlon drives toward the goal.
Hawks tame Lions in Bowl semifinal 37-0
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Camron Labarge races by Wellsville’s Anthony Geer to score his second punt return touchdown of the afternoon during the Hawks Bowl win over the visiting Lions.
Three long special teams touchdown plays highlighted Holley’s 37-0 romp over visiting Wellsville this afternoon in the semifinals of the Section V Class C-1 Connors and Ferris Bowl.
Camron Labarge ignited that scoring spree when he returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown just 2:19 into the game to put Holley on top to stay 7-0 as Ryan Andrews added the first of his four extra point kicks.
Holley’s Zach VanAmeron sacks Wellsville quarterback Aiden Cook.
The Hawks quickly made it 14-0 five minutes later when Jacob Affronti scored on a 3-yard touchdown run, a tally he set up himself with a big 49 yard gain on the previous snap.
Holley’s lead increased to 17-0 at the half on a 34 yard field goal by Andrews with just 21 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Labarge had back-to-back pickups of 17 and 12 yards to highlight the drive.
The Hawks defense also had a big first half as Matt Hahn had 3 tackles for losses, Zach VanAmeron 2 and Jeremy Mallett an interception.
Holley’s other two big special teams scoring plays came in the second half as Affronti returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown to make it 24-0 and then Labarge had a 55 yard punt return for a TD with 3:6 remaining in the fourth quarter to round out the scoring.
Earlier in the final quarter, Nick Schutz had a 5 yard touchdown run, a tally set up by runs of 28 yards by Labarge and 14 by Michael Passarell.
Defensively for the Hawks in the second half, Mallett forced a fumble which was recovered by Affronti and Labarge had an interception.
Regaining the .500 mark at 4-4, Holley will next visit league rival Attica in the C-1 Bowl championship game at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Attica blanked Wayland-Cohocton 23-0 in the other semifinal. The Blue Devils blanked the Hawks 35-0 in the season opener.
Nick Schutz scores a touchdown for Holley.
Marauders oust Purple Eagles in sectionals
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Ugene Harrison goes over the top trying to gain yardage during the Purple Eagles sectional loss at Dunkirk this evening.
A long field goal just before halftime ignited defending champion No. 3 seed Dunkirk to a 25-7 victory over visiting No. 6 Albion this evening in the quarterfinal round of the Section VI Class B playoffs.
Trailing 7-6, Dunkirk moved on top to stay as Devaun Farnham-Dejesus connected on a line drive 45-yard field goal with just 10 seconds remaining in the opening half for a 9-7 Marauders lead.
Farnham-Dejesus also made a 28-yard field goal for the only points of the third quarter upping the Marauders lead to 12-7. A big 34 yard gain on a burst up the middle by Jaziah Rivera on the first snap of the second half ignited that scoring drive.
Albion quarterback Bryce Pritchard pushes Dunkirk tackler Quantavis Kleckley away.
Dunkirk put a lock on the victory when Quantavis Kleckley broke loose for a 40 yard touchdown run without 6:03 remaining the the fourth quarter. Farnham Dejesus, who added the extra point kick to make it 18-7, also scored a touchdown himself in the final minute on a 1 yard run to make the final 25-7.
Albion jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a 2-yard touchdown run by Demetrius Gardner and an extra point kick by Justin Robinson with 9:38 remaining in the second quarter.
A key first down pickup by quarterback Bryce Pritchard on a fourth down gamble at the Albion 29 kept that drive alive. Brilliance Johnson followed up with a 19 yard run to move the Purple Eagles into Mauraders territory. Pritchard then hooked up with JaQuess Harrison for a big 42 yard gain on a deep sideline pattern moving the ball to the Marauders 6 setting up Gardner’s short TD carry.
However, the Purple Eagles could not find the end zone again.
Sparked by runs of 18 and 12 yards by Gardner the Purple Eagles did drive to the Dunkirk 19 yard line late in the half. The Mauraders defense though stopped that advance.
Bolstered by that stand the Marauders offense then drove to get the go ahead field goal by Farnhma-Dejesusl just before half-time sparkd by a big 26 yard pass competition from Farnham-Dejesus to Sabian Smith.
Still trailing by only five at 12-7, Albion did drive to the Dunkirk 23 late in the third quarter after an 18 yard pass completion from Pritchard to JaQuess Harrison. However, a sack for an 11 yard loss on third down stymied that advance.
That proved to be Albion’s last scoring threat as the Purple Eagles did not cross midfield in the final quarter.
The Marauders also downed the Purple Eagles 18-15 two weeks ago at Dunkirk in a key clash of unbeatens for the B-2 Division title.
Albion finishes the season at 6-2 while Dunkirk advances to the semifinals at 7-1.
Purple Eagles back Demetrius Gardner tries to run out of the grasp of Quantavis Kleckley.
