Mustangs, Purple Eagles to renew soccer rivalry in sectional semifinals Saturday

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 24 October 2014 at 12:00 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina/Lyndonville and Albion will renew their soccer rivalry Saturday in the Section VI Class B1 semifinals at 5 p.m. at Hamburg. Here Albion’s Jacob Squicciarini (6) and Medina/Lyndonville’s Brian Anderson (7) battle for the ball during a regular season meeting.

A berth in the sectional finals will be at stake as defending champion Medina/Lyndonville faces rival Albion in the Section VI Class B1 semifinals at 5 p.m. Saturday at Hamburg.

No. 3 seed Medina/Lyndonville, which bested Albion twice during the regular season by scores of 4-2 and 3-1 in route to capturing the Niagara-Orleans League championship, advanced to the semis by nipping No. 6 Alden 1-0 Thursday in the quarterfinals at Vets Park.

“Medina/Lyndonville has a very good team and they have the experience of having been there before,” said Albion Coach Keith Akers. “We know we’ll have our work cut out for us.”

Albion romped past No. 7 Burgard 7-0 in the opening round and then nipped No. 2 seed Bennett 2-1 in double overtime Thursday in the quarterfinals to gain a spot in the semis.

“Albion is playing very good soccer right now,” said Medina/Lyndonville Coach Steve Luksch. “They’ve started the sectionals strong so we know it will be tough. They know us and we know them.”

Offensively Medina/Lyndonville is led by Brian Anderson (16 goals, 6 assists) and Steven Anderson (11 goals, 7 assists). The Mustangs have also received good point production from James Ianni (6 goals, 10 assists), Kristian Snyder (4 goals, 3 assists), Aaron Feltz (3 goals, 3 assists) and Greg Husung (3 goals, 3 assists).

Albion has been sparked on offense by Marcos Sanchez (9 goals, 11 assists), Jacoby Miller (9 goals, 3 assists), Cam Usselman (6 goals, 4 assists), Connor McQuillan (5 goals) and Dylan Bader (4 goals, 1 assist).

Medina/Lyndonville brings a 13-3-1 record into the semis while Albion is at 6-12.

The N-O League will also be represented in the other B1 semifinal as No. 4 Newfane will take on top seeded East Aurora in the 7:30 p.m. contest at Hamburg. Newfane nipped No. 5 Tonawanda 3-2 in the quarterfinals Thursday.

The N-O League will also have two teams in Saturday’s Class B 2 semifinals at Hamburg as No. 4 Wlson will face No. 1 Lackawanna and No. 6 Akron will take on No. 7 Falconer/Cassadaga Valley. Wilson nipped No. 5 City Honors and Akron blanked No. 3 Fredonia 2-0 in Thursday’s quarterfinals.