Again, the Marcellus girls soccer team has championship aspirations, and spent the first week of the 2017 season introducing itself to a wide range of opponents.
The Mustangs waited until last Tuesday night to get its season underway, but the wait didn’t hurt the Mustangs, who got a quick hat trick from Taylor Reich to highlight a 5-0 shutout over Jordan-Elbridge.
Reich would burn the Eagles for a trio of goals before the game was 11 minutes old. That torrid pace was tough to maintain, but Marcellus still led, 4-0, by halftime as Anna Vetsch, who had two assists, struck for a goal of her own and Ashley Gilmore also scored, with Macie Szalach adding an assist. J-E goalie Mia Arms made 20 saves.
It figured to get a lot tougher when Marcellus visited Alibrandi Stadium Thursday night to take on Christian Brothers Academy, a game with extra intrigue because the Brothers’ second-year head coach, Dan Scott, once served as an assistant under Laurie Updike.
Applying all that he learned with the Mustangs, Scott and his CBA side edged Marcellus 2-1, scoring both of its goals in the first half in a similar manner. Grace Hulslander converted in the 11th minute and Amanda Winn scored less than two minutes before halftime, in each instance getting open up front and poking it past Grace Coon, who still made five saves.
Kendall Koloski took over in goal in the second half and stopped all four shots she faced, including a great point-blank stop early in the second half that kept it from going to 3-0. Instead, Taylor Reich scored a few minutes later, cutting CBA’s lead to one
Marcellus had ample opportunities to tie it, especially in the final minutes, only to get turned away as Brothers goalie Catherine Burns made big stops down the stretch while under pressure, finishing with 11 saves overall.
This busy opening week ended Saturday with a trip to the north country to face Indian River, where Marcellus edged the Warriors 2-1. It took goals by Vetsch and Katherine Locastro to put the Mustangs in front, part of a 19-6 shot disparity as Alexis Tri’s goal for IR was not quite enough.
Bishop Ludden absorbed a pair of close defeats following its opening win over Manlius-Pebble Hill, starting on Aug. 31 when it took on Central Square and could not hold on to an early lead, falling 3-2 in overtime to the Redhawks.
For a time, Ludden kept things in check and led, 1-0, at halftime. Despite that, and despite goals from Emma Driscoll and Laura Patulski, the Gaelic Knights watched the Central Square tie it, 2-2, and get the lone OT goal, overcoming Riley Murphy’s eight saves. Ashley Concolino, Gabbi Strong and Allyson Isereau scored for the Redhawks.
Two days later, Ludden fell to Cazenovia in another close decision, 2-1. Here, all of the goals came in the second half as Abbey Bombard struck for the Gaelic Knights, but the Lakers got goals from Kirsten Underwood and Brenna Hughes and, more importantly, withstood constant attacks as goalie Hannah Matteson stopped 18 of the 19 shots she faced.
Solvay still was looking for its first goal of the season following a 4-0 defeat to Oneida Sept. 1 in the consolation game of the Chittenango Tournament. Haley Muehl made nine saves, but the Indians scored twice in each half as Rachel Deurby had two of the goals, with Kristen Barrett and Nicole Smith also finding the net.
In last Tuesday’s game at Skaneateles, the Bearcats got closer, yet still lost, 2-0, to the Lakers. It stayed 0-0 for a while despite constant pressure from Skaneateles, but Solvay’s defense held up until Olivia Navaroli found the net in the 57th minute. Tess Peterson added an insurance goal.
More frustration came in Thursday night’s 3-2 defeat to Mexico. Hannah Martineau notched one goal and assisted on another, by Taylor Clisson, yet the Tigers prevailed, helped by Mattison Peet’s pair of tallies and Ariola Adria’s two assists. Muehl made six saves.
Yet another close loss came on Friday, Solvay falling to Bishop Grimes 1-0 in a game not decided until Julia Gnade’s goal in the second half put the Cobras in front. Try as it could, Solvay could not get anything past Grimes goalie Caroline Wilkinson, who made 10 saves.
Jordan-Elbridge also played last Friday and played Phoenix to a 2-2 draw. Alexis Braun and Katie Goodrich earned the Eagles’ goals, while Emilie Hilliard and Leah Schlacter answered for the Firebirds. Mia Arms stopped 15 of the 17 shots she faced.
