It’s not accurate to say that the Westhill girls soccer team put together a 6-0 victory over Solvay last Tuesday night as it is to say that Cierra Rudnick flattened the Bearcats all by herself.
In the course of a single night, Rudnick was responsible for all six of the Warriors’ scoring plays, from a three-goal hat trick to three assists. What’s more, the trio that helped out – Megan O’Reilly, Mackenzie Powers and Olivia Bolesh – all assisted on Rudnick’s goals while converting themselves.
To its credit, Solvay would bounce back Thursday and, in beating Hannibal 6-3, earn its first win of the 2017 season. Then it lost 5-3 to LaFayette on Saturday, unable to overcome the Lancers’ Charlotte Ryan earning three goals and one assist, though Carly Devereaux, Dee Dee McGriff and Maya Martineau scored for the Bearcats, Devereaux and Lanaya Willis adding assists.
Meanwhile, Westhill recorded another shutout on Friday, blanking Homer 3-0 as a pair of first-half goals put the Warriors in control. Rudnick didn’t score, but O’Reilly, Katelyn Karleski and Ryan Murphy did find the net, overcoming 13 saves by Trojans goalie Anna Gugerty.
Things remain uneven for Marcellus, who is getting ample opportunities to beat opponents, but not always taking full advantage. This was especially true in last Monday night’s 0-0 draw against visiting Phoenix. Most of the time, the Mustangs had the ball, and its relentless pressure forced the Firebirds to defend its own net.
Twice, Marcellus thought it had scored, only to get it called back. Another shot clanged off the post, and when that didn’t happen, Phoenix goalie Cheyenne Wilson was sensational, recording 21 saves. By contrast, the Firebirds took just four shots in 80 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime.
West Genesee, who played Westhill to a 0-0 draw on Sept. 8, had the same thing happen against Cicero-North Syracuse four days later.
The Wildcats owned most of the chances in the 80 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime, but could not get anything past Northstars goalie Olivia Haven, who made 10 saves. Meanwhile, WG held the visitors to just four shots all night.
In Saturday’s non-league game at East Syracuse Minoa, the Wildcats had yet another OT game, but won it, 2-0, on goals in each of the 10-minute extra periods as Haley Elsey and Sarah Petrus scored them, Emma Nelson adding an assist.
More important than the result, the game raised money for ESM’s “Kara Fund”, named in honor of the late Kara MacDougall, a former ESM soccer star who passed away in 2010 at age 17.
Bishop Ludden was back on the field last Monday night and was quite impressive in shutting out Bishop Grimes 3-0. What makes this game unique is that some of these players are teammates on the combined Ludden-Grimes girls lacrosse team during the spring.
In the fall, though, they are rivals, and the Gaelic Knights used 24 shots to wear the Cobras’ defense down. Up 1-0 at halftime, Ludden got away as Laura Patulski scored a pair of goals, with Abby Bombard earning the other.
Then things reversed itself Friday, Ludden shut out 2-0 by Tully, who had goalie Emily Latigene stop all nine Gaelic Knights shots she faced. Riley Murphy had 12 saves, but surrendered a pair of second-half goals to the Black Knights’ Jessica Donald, with Alexi Hamilton assisting on both of those scoring plays.
Jordan-Elbridge would pull out a dramatic 2-1 overtime victor y over Altmar-Parish-Williamstown last Tuesday for its first win in 2017.
Alexis Braun put the Eagles on the board in the second half, only to have the Rebels’ Julieann Parker answer to tie it again. It stayed that way until 1:12 into the second OT, when Mollie Yard put one past APW goalie Sydney Jones, and it held up. Allison Jennings got credit for an assist as Mia Arms made 13 saves, two less than Jones.
All of this made Thursday’s 5-0 defeat to CBA a bit easier for the Eagles to take. Arms was under pressure all night and amassed 25 saves, but couldn’t keep everything out as Katy Stanard’s pair of goals led a well-balanced attack for the Brothers.
