N-O League soccer, field hockey competition is set to begin

Niagara-Orleans League girls soccer competition begins this evening as Roy-Hart hosts Medina at 6:30 p.m. at Gasport.

The other three league openers will be on Tuesday including Albion at Barker, Newfane at CSAT and Akron at defending champion Wilson, all at 4:30 p.m.

Wilson captured its third straight N-O title last fall with a 14-0 record as Akron finished in the runner-up spot at 11-2-1.

Wilson is led by a pair of returning first team All-League honorees in junior forward Emily Patterson (14 goals, 9 assists) and senior defender Zipporah Barrett. Junior midfielder Kayla Neumann (13 goals, 4 assists), a second team All-League pick, also returns along with midfielders Jen Darlak, a junior, and Leah Herman, a senior, who both received All-League honorable mention.

Akron is led by senior defender Ashley Mietz, who earned first team All-League honors, and senior midfielder Erica Papke (10 goals, 13 assists), a second team honoree.

Newfane, which finished in third place at 9-5, is led by senior midfielder Kaylee Heschke (12 goals, 18 assists), a first team All-League selection, and sophomore forward Kayleigh Daniels (16 goals, 6 assists), a second team honoree.

Albion, which finished in fourth place at 8-6, returns a pair of first team All-League selections in senior forward Mariah Elsenheimer (19 goals, 10 assists) and junior midfielder Emily Blanchard (17 goals, 11 assists).

Roy-Hart is paced by returning second team All-League honorees, senior forwards Emma Lindke (29 goals, 11 assists) and Amber Villella (17 goals, 8 assists).

Medina likewise returns two second team All-League selections in senior Emma Gardner and junior Kyla Leno (9 goals, 7 assists). The Mustangs also return honorable mention picks junior Martha Gardner and sophomore Destiny Satkowski.

N-O boys soccer action begins on Wednesday with defending champion Medina/Lyndonville hosting CSAT, Albion at Newfane and Akron at Wilson, all at 4:30 p.m. Roy-Hart, which draws the bye in league competition, will face host Holley in the opening round of the Hawks Tournament at 6:30 p.m.

Medina/Lyndonville, which went 9-2-1 last fall, to edge out Wilson (9-3), Newfane (8-3-1) and Akron (7-5) for the title, is led by a trio of returning first team All-League honorees including senior forward Brian Anderson (16 goals, 6 assists), senior midfielder Colm Cooper and junior midfielder Kristien Snyder. Senior midfielder Greg Husung and senior goalie Justin Morgan, who both earned second team All-League honors, also return as does senior defender Josh Klotzbach, an honorable mention pick.

Wilson is led by returning first team All-League honoree sophomore forward Cesar Carlin (20 goals) along with junior midfielder Joshua VanBuren and junior defender Josh LiPume, who were both second team honorees.

Setting the pace for Newfane are returning first team All-League honorees senior forward Chad Gilson (15 goals, 4 assists) and sophomore midfielder Trevor Moreland (9 goals, 13 assists).

First team All-League senior midfielder Bryan Whitbeck (9 goals) and second team senior forward Tristan Olszewski set the pace for Akron.

N-O field hockey competition also begins on Tuesday with Kenmore at defending champion Barker, Wilson at Medina and Roy-Hart at Newfane, all at 4:45 p.m., as Akron draws the bye.

Barker, which captured a ninth straight N-O title last fall with a 12-0 record, is led by returning first team All-League honoree senior goalie/midfielder Caitlyn Mason along with second team selections senior forward Erin Greenwald and senior midfielder Madison Greenwald as well as honorable mention picks midfielders Emma Duffy and Kelsie Engert and forward Rebecca Stoloski, all seniors.

Akron, which finished in the runner-up spot at 9-3, is led by returning first team All-League honorees sophomore forward Abby Stone and junior sweeper Cierra Janis. The Lady Tigers also return senior forward Saah Schultz, a second team honoree.

Wilson, which finished in third place at 8-4, returns a solid nucleus of first team All-League honorees forward Rachael Cobo and midfielder Courtney Wheeler, both seniors, along with second team selections senior defender Erin Boyle and junior midfielder Johanna Turvey.

Roy-Hart returns a first team All-League honoree in midfielder/defender Rielly Albee, a junior, as does Medina in senior midfielder Stella Russo.