Purple Eagles surge past rival Mustangs

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Sam Sanchez goes after the ball as Caelen Holland of Medina/Lyndonville tries to kick it up field. The action took place during the Purple Eagles win over the Mustangs this afternoon at Vets Park.

A quick four goal scoring burst late in the second half rallied Albion to a 6-3 victory over rival Medina/Lyndonville in a Niagara-Orleans League boys soccer game at Vets Park this afternoon.

Trailing 3-2, Albion pulled even on a breakaway goal by Leonel Rosario with 17:22 remaining in the second half.

Ignited by that tally, the Purple Eagles quickly regained the lead for good at 4-3 when Nate Scanlan scored just 39 seconds later at 16:43 off an assist from Angel Rosario.

Albion’s Angel Rosario takes the ball up field as Jonathan Slingerland defends for Medina/Lyndonville.

Keeping the momentum, Albion upped its lead to 5-3 when Kendyll Hadick scored on a breakaway with 11:31 remaining.

The Purple Eagles then put a firm lock on the victory when Angel Rosario scored just 34 seconds later on a penalty kick with 10:57 to go to make it 6-3.

Albion also jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the outset as Thomas Hollenbeck scored just 10 minutes in on a breakaway.

Medina/Lyndonville answered right back with the equalizer just four minutes later as Nate Dillenbeck scored at the 26:04 mark and the sea-saw battle was underway.

It took Albion less than six minutes to get that one back as Hadick tallied with 20:47 to go off an assist from Hollenbeck to take a 2-1 lead at the half.

The outset of the second half saw Medina/Lyndonville come battling back as Evan Silversmith netted the equalizer at 33:04 and Casey Wineicki followed up with the go ahead tally at 22:31 for a 3-2 Mustangs lead.

The last surge and the victory though belonged to Albion as the Purple Eagles got four quick goals in a span of only seven minutes from Leonel Rosario, Scanlan, Hadick and Angel Rosario.

Albion improves to 2-1-1 in the league while Medina/Lyndonville slips to 1-3-1.

Medina/Lyndonville next hosts Wilson at 4:30 p.m. Friday while Albion entertains Roy-Hart at 7 p.m. Saturday.

In the the N-O games, Wilson (4-0-1) nipped Newfane (2-2) 1-0 and Akron (1-3-1) trimmed Roy-Hart (2-3) 3-2. Aidan Bligh and Jacob Fritton scored the goals for Roy-Hart.

Casey Winiecki winds up to take a shot on goal for the Mustangs as Harrison Brown defends for the Purple Eagles.

Jacob Fuller kicks the ball up field for the Purple Eagles as Nate Sherman moves in for the Mustangs.