Medina/Lyndonville booters prepping to defend N-O title

Photo by Mike Wertman – Veteran members of the defending Niagara-Orleans League champion Medina/Lyndonville boys varsity soccer team include, in front, Carson Zgoda, Justin Morgan, Colm Cooper,, Tyler Ames and Paul Kurz. In back are Matt Doherty, Vassilios Bitsas, Greg Husung, Josh Klotzbach, Kristian Snyder, Brian Anderson and Ian Smith.

Anchored by a large nucleus of a dozen returning regulars, the Medina/Lyndonville boys varsity soccer team is prepping to defend its Niagara-Orleans League title.

That veteran contingent is led by senior forward Brian Anderson, senior midfielder Colm Cooper and junior midfielder Kristian Snyder, who all earned first team N-O All-League honors last fall, along with senior midfielder Greg Husung and senior goalie Justin Morgan, who were both second team honorees, and junior midfielder Vassilios Bitsas and senior defender Josh Klotzbach, who were both honorable mention selections.

Anderson had 16 goals and 6 assists last fall, Snyder 4 goals and 3 assists and Husung 3 goals and 3 assists.

The group also includes senior midfielders Matt Doherty, Carson Zgoda and Ian Smith, senior goalie Tyler Ames, and senior defender Paul Kurz.

Also returning with varsity experience are junior defender Quentin Adkins, senior forward Zach Harris, senior midfielder Nick Hinkson and senior defender Zach Laird.

“That’s a solid group that has a lot of potential,” said Coach Steve Luksch. “The chemistry is really good this year as it is such a tight group. They are very knowledgable about the game.”

Chief losses to graduation for Medina/Lyndonville, which went 9-2-1 in the league and 13-4-1 overall, were first team All-League midfielder Steven Anderson (11 goals and 7 assists) second team forward James Ianni (6 goals and 11 assists) and second team defender Collin Dunn.

Medina/Lyndonville won a close four-way battle for the N-O title last year edging out Wilson (9-3), Newfane (8-3-1) and Akron (7-5) and Luksch looks for the same type of a tight title race this season.

“I think it is going to be another very competitive league. You just can’t take a night off with that kind of competition and we’ve been stressing that,” said Luksch. “The key for the season will be whoever is the most consistent. Consistency is the biggest part and getting timely scoring.”

Medina/Lyndonville will begin its N-O title defense on September 2 at CSAT.

Schedule:

Sept. 2 – at CSAT, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 4 – Albion, 4 p.m.
Sept. 9 – Wilson, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 12 – Kendall, 1 p.m.
Sept. 14 – at Newfane, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 – Akron, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 22 – at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 24 – at Batavia, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 25 – CSAT. 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 – at Albion, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 1 – at Wilson, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 3 – Northstar, 2 p.m.
Oct. 7 – Newfane, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 10 – at Akron, 10 a.m.
Oct. 15 – Roy-Hart, 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 – Oracle, 5 p.m.