Medina/Lyndonville booters set to begin Class B1 sectional title defense

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 22 October 2014 at 12:00 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Colm Cooper and his Medina/Lyndonville teammates will open defense of their sectional title by hosting Alden at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Vets Park.

Seeded No. 3, Medina/Lyndonville will begin defense of its Section VI Class B1 boys soccer title by hosting No. 6 Alden at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Vets Park.

Looking to keep the momentum from having just captured the merged team’s first Niagara-Orleans League championship, the Mustangs will bring a 12-3-1 overall record into the playoffs.

Alden, which nipped No. 11 Depew 2-1 Tuesday in the opening round on a pair of goals by Matt Ess, brings a nearly identical 12-4-1 season record into the quarterfinal round contest.

“Sectionals is always a different animal than the regular season and this year the B bracket is loaded. It’s one of the deepest I’ve seen in a while,” said Medina/Lyndonville Coach Steve Luksch. “We’ve got to come with our best game as in sectionals you can be only one mistake from being eliminated and as the defending champion we will get everybody’s best effort.”

Brian Anderson has 15 goals and 6 assists and Steven Anderson 11 goals and 6 assists to lead the Mustangs attack which also includes James Ianni with 6 goals and 10 assists, Kristian Snyder 4 goals and 3 assists and Aaron Feltz and Greg Hussung both with 3 goals and 3 assists.

Ess leads Alden with a season high total of 13 goals and 6 assists.

Last year Medina/Lyndnville nipped N-O foe Newfane 2-1 in overtime for the B1 title after blanking Eden 4-0 in the quarterfinals and edging Lafayette 2-1 in the semis.

The other Class B1 quarterfinal games on Thursday involving N-O teams will have will have No. 10 Albion at No. 2 Bennett and No. 5 Tonawnada at No. 4 Newfane. Interestingly, if Albion and Medina/Lyndonville both post wins the Purple Eagles and Mustangs will then meet in the semifinals on Saturday.

Thursday’s Class B2 quarterfinals involving N-O teams will have No. 5 City Honors at Wilson and No. 6 Akron at No. 3 Fredonia.