Story and photos by CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com
BELFAST — Homecoming weekend in the Genesee Valley and Belfast communities was one filled with commemoration and one of emotional stature. But it wasn’t just any ordinary day.
This. This one hit extremely close to home.
In the hair of all of the Genesee Valley/Belfast girls, a purple ribbon to support Hodgkin’s Lymphoma awareness, as their former team captain and four-year Varsity soccer player Adison Grusendorf, a 2023 graduate from Genesee Valley, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma this past June.
Across a two-day period at both schools, the communities came together as one to raise funds to help combat the disease, with all the proceeds going to Allegany County Cancer Services.
Her former gym teacher and girls soccer coach, Lisa Scott-Schneider, spoke highly of Adison during her time with the program, describing her as one of brightest lights of positivity, as well as one of the hardest workers she has coached.
Those efforts, along with the rest of the team following right behind her, allowed them to reach the Class D2 finals just a couple of years ago in Grusendorf’s junior season with the team.
Scott-Schneider says the community outreach across both days to support her, was second to none.
“Adison was a very important person for the Genesee Valley/Belfast women’s soccer program. She was an integral part of making runs to the Semifinals and Finals as a midfielder. Work ethic and attitude are her greatest attributes,” she said. “Adison tore her ACL her freshman year at Elmira, and then sickness hit her. Instead of depression, she met Hodgkin’s Lymphoma head on. She had to take a semester off to conclude her treatments, so we decided to honor Adison with a weekend of compassion and love. She chose to donate proceeds back to Allegany County Cancer Services to give back since they assisted her with gas cards.”
Scott-Schneider continued, saying that “Adison’s greatest assets will get her through this hiccup of life. Her positive frame of mind and her smile. We love her so very much, and the community support for her was beyond my expectations. The light at the end of that tunnel will be shining bright, waiting for her. All it takes is one day at a time.”
Now more than halfway through her treatments, Grusendorf made her way to the Genesee Valley/Belfast sideline at the Rich Sullivan Complex in Belfast to rejoin the team as an honorary coach alongside her former coaches: Scott-Schneider and her co-coach, Duane Powers.
Before taking the field for a colossal showdown with Cuba-Rushford, Grusendorf rallied the troops around her for a pregame speech that was met with all sorts of emotion.
During that speech, a bouquet of flowers from the opposite side of the field, hand-delivered by Cuba-Rushford senior Brynn Lavery. Above the Genesee Valley/Belfast bench on the sidelines, a sign of powerful value: #AdiStrong.
The girls knew who and what they were playing for on Saturday.
As for the game itself, both teams previously deadlocked at two goals on each side earlier this year in Cuba. It would come as no surprise that it was another fierce fight to the finish line with the Cuba-Rushford Lady Rebels, with Genesee Valley/Belfast scoring early on in the first half before the Lady Rebels leveled the playing surface late in the second half to force an eventual period of overtime between the two foes again.
It slowly took shape as one of the more excruciatingly physical battles both teams have endured this season. But through it all, only one managed to emerge victorious.
Bayleigh Tallman made sure Genesee Valley/Belfast did it for Adison.
After mounting several opportunities against Cuba-Rushford all throughout the day, the electric sophomore finally sledgehammered a shot home to end the game — her second of the afternoon stemming off a marvelous breakaway from the Lady Rebels to send the home side of the sideline into a pandemonic frenzy, as they went on to celebrate Homecoming in style following an emotional 2-1 overtime victory.
“What a hard-fought game this was. This was a huge win for us. Cuba-Rushford has been at the top of their game all season, and today was no different,” said GV/Belfast co-coach Duane Powers. “I’m really pleased with our effort. We’ve talked about playing a full 80 minutes all season, and at times, we wavered. But through all the adversity we faced today, the girls never quit.”
The first half was highlighted by multiple opportunities for Tallman to break through the glass for Genesee Valley/Belfast (9-1-1) first. Approaching the midway mark, Tallman found her way onto the scoresheet for a 1-0 lead after a solo performance to keep the ball moving up field. Upon her defeat of the Cuba-Rushford defense, she wound up catching the goalkeeper off-guard with a shot into the net next to the far post.
With the advantage remaining in their possession going into the second half, Cuba-Rushford (8-2-1) was presented with a chance to turn the heat up themselves all throughout, led by Cloey Larabee and a direct kick right from the start that was halted by the Genesee Valley/Belfast defense.
With 15:59 remaining however, the Lady Rebels received a golden opportunity to tie the game off a penalty inside the offensive box from the hosts, setting up a Larabee penalty kick that was not squandered by any means, as she knocked the game-tying score home to the right side of the cage.
The remainder of time would see both teams fight a grueling, physical fight across the midfield for possession to try and tilt the momentum in their direction, but after 80 complete minutes, it was not enough to decide a winner.
But in overtime, just three minutes were needed to end it, as Tallman came through with a knockout blow, picking up a gorgeous pass sent along to the front of the goal by Hannah Southwick-Powers to allow a breakaway opportunity to formulate. With no hesitation, Tallman knocked it right home to send the Genesee Valley/Belfast sideline into hysterics, ending a long and emotional Homecoming afternoon on the brightest of notes.
Genesee Valley/Belfast doubled up Cuba-Rushford in the shots department, claiming the 8-4 overall advantage. In net, Morgan Yackeren recorded the win, making three saves against the Lady Rebels. As for the visitors in white and blue, Annaleece Melton made six saves.
Both teams make their return to the field on Monday over the road in a pair of 7 p.m. contests, with Genesee Valley/Belfast hitting the road for a colossal clash with undefeated Fillmore, while Cuba-Rushford looks to bounce it back with a visit to the Lady Lions of Wellsville.
If you would like to continue to support Adison’s fight against Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, you can click here to view and purchase custom-made t-shirts, hoodies and more designed by Grusendorf, as well as make a charitable donation to Allegany County Cancer Services to help combat this disease.
We at WellsvilleSports.com would like to extend our love and our very best wishes to Adison as she continues down the home stretch with her treatments!
