Purple Eagles prep for N-O soccer opener

Photo by Mike Wertman – Getting set to help lead the Albion girls varsity soccer team into the upcoming season are these Purple Eagle veterans. In front are Elisabeth Baker and Natalie DiCureia. In back are , Mariah Plain, Paige Derisley and Alexis Bentley.

Boasting a good nucleus of 10 returnees and with new coach Albion grad Maggie (King) Orbaker at the helm the Purple Eagles girls varsity soccer team is prepping for an early (Augusts 29) Niagara-Orleans League season opener at Akron.

The Purple Eagles veteran contingent includes senior defenders Elisabeth Baker and Natalie DiCureia, juniors Catherine Wolck (defender), Brylie Hapeman (forward), Sarah Gregori (forward), Zoe Chatfield (defender) and Alexis Bentley (goalie) along with sophomores Kendall Derisley (midfielder), Paige Derisley (defender) and Mariah Plain (midfielder).

Hapeman earned second team N-O All-League honors last year while Paige Derisley and DiCureia both received Honorable Mention.

“We’re young but they are really hard workers and I’m really excited about the season,” said Orbaker.

The Purple Eagles graduation losses include first team N-O All-League honoree Emily Blanchard, second team selections Nikki Eldred and Vivian Rivers and Honorable Mention pick Isabella Prest.

Albion went 8-3-1 in N-O competition last fall and 10-6-1 overall.

Schedule
August: 29 – at Akron, 4:30 p.m.

September: 1 – Barker, 4:30 p.m., 5 – Newfane, 6:30 p.m., 7 and 9 – at Kendall Tournament, 11 – at Wilson, 4:30 p.m., 14 – Medina, 6:30 p.m., 18 – at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m., 23 – Akron, 7 p.m., 26 – at Barker, 4:30 p.m., 29  – at Newfane, 4:30 p.m.

October: 3 – Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m., 5 – Wilson, 4:30 p.m., 7 – at Medina, 10 a.m., 11 – Alexander, 6:30 p.m., 13 – Kendall, 4:15 p.m.