Photos and story by CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com
Tuesday Roundup: Lewis-Ellison’s PK aids And/Whi’s strong finish to regular season with 1-0 shutout at Fri/Scio; GV/Belfast girls net 3 early markers in 2nd half to set up 4-0 blank of Lady Lions
SCIO — After their absolutely tenacious performance of the season back on Friday to capsize the Lady Rebels of Cuba-Rushford on their home grass, the Andover/Whitesville girls were back to the grind, and they were looking for more to contribute towards a strong finish to their regular season on Tuesday.
A regular-season ending consultation with Friendship/Scio was in store for a chilly night in Scio, where both teams fought the fight through the field for possession early on. As the defensive battle ensued, the chances were limited.
With the action coming to a scoreless halt going into the break, something had to give way. That’s when a massive chance to strike came in the early-going.
For Andover/Whitesville, Graci Lewis-Ellison made a world of difference by netting what would suffice as the game’s only score, as she knocked home a free opportunity to break the ice and ultimately aid the team’s gravitation towards a strong finish to their regular season campaign with a 1-0 win — their third in their last four games, over host Friendship/Scio.
Lewis-Ellison came away with Andover/Whitesville’s monumental marker approaching the removal of the first 10 minutes in the second half. After just over 40 minutes of digging and clawing their way through the Friendship/Scio defense, the senior was provided the biggest of opportunities to tilt the game overwhelmingly.
After a foul was drawn against Friendship/Scio (5-9-1) in their defensive box, Lewis-Ellison lined up for a penalty kick that she did not squander, as she knocked it in past Avery Lamberson in between the posts for the hosts to give Andover/Whitesville a one-goal lead they would continue to hold until the end of the night.
The goal, which clocked in with 31:20 remaining, was part of a nine-shot display of offense for the visitors, as they outshot the hosts in black and gold by a 9-6 total count. In net, the shutout was claimed by Olivia Waters, who made all six stops to help finish the job.
As for Lamberson, she would put a stop to eight shots faced from the opposition. Friendship/Scio will close out their regular season Thursday night right back in Scio, as they host Genesee Valley/Belfast in a 6 p.m. first kick.
Andover/Whitesville will now await what the future holds in Sectionals, which begin next week, as they wrap up their regular season with a record of 5-10 overall.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 4, Wellsville 0
BELMONT — A repeat of history from their previous matchup fell into the cards for the Genesee Valley/Belfast girls on Tuesday.
After claiming a 4-0 victory over the road against the Wellsville Lady Lions just a couple of weeks ago, Genesee Valley/Belfast would do it all over again, this time on their home turf, as they struck gold right out of the gate before cementing into place a second half rapid succession to advance their lead towards insurmountable territory, rolling towards a second 4-0 blank of the Lady Lions at Judy Bliven Field in Belmont to sweep the season series.
There was no better way to start the game for Genesee Valley/Belfast (13-1-1), as they immediately peeled out towards a 1-0 lead of Wellsville just 38 seconds into the game. With the ball working back towards midfield in the midst of a defensive regroup, Sophie Zillgitt was the first to start a brand new possession of soccer, as she danced with the Lady Lions defense before shifting a pass dead ahead to Bayleigh Tallman.
After surveying the field in front of her, Tallman then spearheaded a pass to a streaking Hannah Southwick-Powers, who finished off a brilliant shot from the near post to the far side of the Lady Lions cage to break the ice.
Genesee Valley/Belfast would remain vigilant in a tight battle for possession across the midfield for the remainder of the first half, leading up towards a massive second half detonation in the first 10 minutes, as they went on to score three more goals in a span of 2:20 to take a one-goal advantage and quadruple it in unbreachable fashion.
The first tally, stemming off a Madison Yackeren throw-in and finished by a Bayleigh Tallman rocket over the head of Lydia Kaye in the Lady Lions (5-9-1) net from the top of the 18.
Tallman then used some heads-up awareness to swipe away possession again from Wellsville, intercepting a direct kick near midfield to deliver a pass up the middle for Southwick-Powers, who broke free for a rush alone to the goal, burying home her second of the game just two minutes later for a 3-0 lead.
The scoring was finished off 27 seconds later following the kick at midfield, as Genesee Valley/Belfast used some great ball movement to work the ball back into the Wellsville zone. After a Kayla Wedge pass was sent ahead for Tallman, she would then aid Southwick-Powers again for a third time with a pass to her left-hand side that was finished off in hat trick-clinching style.
The four goals by the hosts were scattered across a 14-shot offensive display, as they managed to collect a 14-3 advantage in the shot department over the Lady Lions. In net, the shutout belonged to Morgan Yackeren, who made all four stops.
For Wellsville, Lydia Kaye finished with 10 saves.
Both teams will return to the pitch Thursday night in a pair of 6 p.m. first kicks, as Genesee Valley/Belfast travels down the road to visit Friendship/Scio in Scio, while Wellsville heads back home for their final regular season game with a visit from Bolivar-Richburg.
Fillmore 8, Bolivar-Richburg 0
BOLIVAR — After a temporary battle for possession through the field, the Lady Eagles of Fillmore kept the water going at a rolling boil before they uncorked a flurry of scores against host Bolivar-Richburg to kick the action into a completely different gear, as they accounted for five first half markers to set the tone in what was an 8-0 blank over the Lady Wolverines.
Out of their five markers in the first 40 minutes, Fillmore (14-1) set up shop right away with three of them coming in a nine-minute span to springboard their way ahead of Bolivar-Richburg, with Kallie Pastorius starting the scoring on a solo effort to the cage.
Towards the midway point, Morghyn Ross then took matters into her own hands with back-to-back strikes, with her first stemming off a penalty kick before receiving a pass from Pastorius to finish off two minutes later.
The scoring would cease until the last 10 minutes of the frame when Ryleigh Goodliff and Peyton Duvall each provided a solo marker to branch Fillmore’s lead to five.
Along with a second goal in the last 40 minute session from Pastorius, Brooklyn Templeton and Emalyn Mucher bookended the frame with a goal each, with assists from Grace Walton and Kylie Songster, respectively, coming along the way.
Mucher would receive credit for the assist on the second Pastorius goal.
The eight total scores against Bolivar-Richburg (4-10) were recorded off 20 total shots, as the Lady Eagles claimed a 20-2 advantage in the shot department over the Lady Wolverines. In net, the win belonged to Grace Clark, who split time with Kelsie Songster in between the posts, as they combined for the two-save shutout.
On the opposite side, Rylee Whiting made 12 saves for the hosts in black and red.
The Lady Eagles will close out their regular season with another road trip coming up on Friday, hitting the road for a 7 p.m. clash with Cuba-Rushford in Hinsdale, while Bolivar-Richburg hits the road for a 6 p.m. visit to Wellsville on Thursday.
