BY HUNTER O. LYLE
PORTVILLE, NY – As they look to secure positioning ahead of the impending postseason, the Portville boys soccer team took one step closer to a league championship with a 2-0 win over Ellicottville.
To start things off, the Panthers took time to recognize their six seniors, Brady German, Logan Zeigler, Chase Armstrong, Braeden Carter, Wyatt Evans and Owen Faulkner.
“A couple of them were a part of the (Section VI Class C Championship) we had a few years back and they said that was their favorite moment,” said Portville head coach JJ McIntosh. “I tried to preach to them that we have more moments ahead if we keep playing the way we’re capable of.”
The last game played between the Panthers and Eagles still lingered in each other’s minds when, on Monday, Sept. 23, Portville took the advantage in the series with a 2-0 victory on the road. Both teams have taken successful strides in the following weeks, each registering three wins.
“We wanted to try to take away the middle. Take away German brothers, they both can play and distribute well,” said Ellicottville head coach Matt Finn. “We were kind of thinking if we can take them out of the play we can get something going.”
In the initial moments of the contest, the ball ebbed and flowed across the pitch. Using their speed, Portville would take quick jabs at the opposition, stabbing deep into enemy territory before being sent back scoreless. Ellicotville, on the other hand, would send high-arching lobs over midfield which would meet their swift forwards who looked for a chance to put a shot in play. Neither produced any significant production, let alone a goal.
In the fifth minute, a deflected pass left the Panthers with the first of the night. After a perfectly placed cross touched turf, it ricocheted off Faulkner, then finding Carter who punched it in for the first goal of the game.
Typically after being scored upon, some teams come back with a vengeance and others let the moment slip through their grasp. For the Eagles, the handful of minutes following the goal seemed to display the latter. Between sloppy passes and hesitation to attack. The visibly deflated and rattled Ellicottville squad were left toothless, albeit, only on offense.
Looking to add to their lead and clip the Eagles’ wings, Portville won the battle at midfield and pushed on the gas. However, despite boasting an effective defensive unit, met an equally stringent squad on the other side of the pitch as Ellicotville routinely denied access in close. As the minutes ticked by, shot attempts from either team dried up.
In the final minutes of the half, the Eagles began to find their rhythm, taking over the pitch and setting up shop in the Panthers’ territory. While they were able to spark a handful of lone-man drives and a free kick or two, they were unable to even the score and instead entered halftime still down a goal.
Coming into the second half, a renewed sense of urgency and aggression walked onto the field alongside either squad. Both teams were determined to get things going early, evident by the tireless hustle and the increased level of physicality. Battles for 50-50 balls began to produce trips to the ground as the intensity built. Near the 50th minute, the intensity broke and the Eagles picked up a yellow card. Taking the free kick was Colin German whose shot glanced off an Ellicottville defender and rolled off the goal keepers’ gloves, giving the Panthers their second goal of the night.
From there, it became Portville’s game. After ripping the momentum away from the Eagles, the Panthers dominated the ball with long possessions that continuously peppered Ellicottville’s goaltender. For the Eagles, their gassed legs up front struggled to create runs on offense, leaving the defense with their hands full for the remainder of the period.
As their window for a comeback quickly closed, the Panthers continued to keep their foot on the gas, leaving the Eagles solely focused on damage control. Eventually, there was nothing more to do than wait for the final buzzer and as it rang, Portville had notched their tenth win of the season.
“We played hard against a well-coached, much improved team. It was a playoff type atmosphere with the way they laid it all out there,” said McIntosh. “You can’t ask any more of them. They kept playing hard, played through some adversity and were able to execute when we needed it.”
With the win came an opportunity for a CCAA Division 2 League Championship, a title that would be decided in their next time on their home field. Exactly one week from their matchup with the Eagles, the Panthers look to avenge their sole loss of the season against Randolph. Currently tied for the top spot, the winner of that contest will walk home with a league title.
“The way it worked out was that our two toughest league games are our last two,” said McIntosh, who’s team will face Olean the following Friday. “That’s our only loss in our season so far so we’re looking to bring the intensity that we brought today, bring the emotion into it and then just leave it all out there.”
Lady Owls volleyball, soccer shutout on the road
Around the area
VOLLEYBALL
Bradford 3, Punxsutawney 0
BRADFORD, PA – Taking to the road, the Lady Owls were able to bring a win back home with them after defeating Punxsy in three clean sets, winning 25-10, 25-18 and 25-15.
Haley Keane’s seven aces blazed the way alongside her eight kills and two blocks. Addison Carter had three aces and eight kills while Emma Pilon had four kills. Lilly Wells ran the floor for the Lady Owls with 22 assists in the win.
Portville 3, Jamestown 0
PORTVILLE, NY – On Tuesday, the Lady Panthers recorded their twelfth straight victory with a clean sweep of Jamestown, winning 25-8, 25-15 and 25-13.
Ali Haynes helped lead the way with 12 kills, three aces and three digs, while Laney Vincent had 10 kills, three aces and six digs. Adriana Ensell had a team-high six aces, eight kills and 15 digs, Leigha Stives had seven kills and Hanna Wysocki facilitated the offense with 30 assists.
GIRLS SOCCER
Bradford 12, Oil City 0
OIL CITY, PA – The Lady Owls continued their strong season with another blowout shutout victory, this time pummeling the Lady Oilers.
Bella Prince added five goals to her season while also feeding her teammates for four assists. Her counterpart, Alyssa Mangold, scored four goals with one assist while Kierstin Taylor had two goals and one assist.
Fredonia 5, Olean 1
OLEAN, NY – With the help of a hat trick from Fredonia’s Cece Tonelli, the Olean girls soccer team suffered their tenth loss of the season on Tuesday, dropping to 1-10-1 overall.
Haylee Babar and Mady Polhamus scored the final two Lady Hillbilly goals. Mallory Carter scored the Lady Huskies’ lone goal of the game on a penalty kick following a handball, while Emma Edwards recorded 11 saves in the net.
CROSS COUNTRY
Boys: Jamestown 31, Fredonia, Southwestern 64, Olean 87
Girls: Jamestown 36, Southwestern 41, Fredonia 69, Olean 84
The Huskies came up short this past Tuesday, drawing two losses while Jamestown swept the field of competition.
Trenton Krenzer of Fredonia was the men’s overall individual winner with a time of 17:56. For the girls, Southwestern’s Emma Lewis finished the 3.1 mile course first with a time of 19:20.
