ONONDAGA COUNTY – Five consecutive wins to open the season for the Bishop Ludden girls soccer team also included five shutouts, something that would get tested a bit more.
The Gaelic Knights visited Tully last Wednesday night and, put to one of its toughest tests so far, passed it once more, beating the Black Knights 2-0.
For the sixth game in a row, Ludden’s defense prevented anything from getting past it, a tribute to the back line and to the 12 saves put up by goalie Sarah Boyea.
When it attacked, the Gaelic Knights found success with Faith Griffin and Ashley Pawelczyk put in the goals.
Two days before this, Ludden had gained yet another shutout when it topped Pulaski 6-0, with Pawelczyk keying the Gaelic Knights’ best scoring effort so far.
Half the goals came from Pawelczyk, who also got an assist to augment her hat trick. Griffin, Grace Olivia and Ava Carpenter also netted goals, with Sophia Chemotti, Allison Kerwin and Maddie Moen also getting assists.
Ludden then made it seven straight shutouts when it dismissed Onondaga 3-0 on Friday, an impressive effort given that the Tigers carried a 5-2 record into the game, but could not get any of its seven shots past Boyea.
Norah Casey was the latest Gaelic Knights standout, earning a goal and assist. Pawelczyk hit on her 11th goal of the season as Griffin also converted and Ava Carpenter added an assist.
West Genesee entered the week with a 4-2-1 record and exited it far more confident of its abilities, thanks to one stunning result.
When the Wildcats went to Fayetteville-Manlius last Saturday, it paid little attention to the pedigree of the opponent and put together an impressive 3-0 shutout of the reigning two-time Section III Class AA champion Hornets.
This was a classic instance of a team taking full advantage of whatever opportunities were presented to it, as WG took just six shots – but converted three of them.
Those three goals came from the trio of Sofia Snyder, Maria Snyder and Ellie McMahon, backed by a defense that turned back every F-M chance to catch up, Jenna Orr recording eight saves.
All this happened after WG battled Whitesboro to a 2-2 draw earlier in the week.
Each team scored once in each half. Giovanna Vigliotti and Shannon Corbett found the net for the Wildcats, with Lindsay DePietro and Hannah Smith converting for Whitesboro.
They went through 20 minutes of overtime without a resolution, with WG’s defense taking plenty of pressure, but Orr working her total to 11 saves to keep it even.
Jordan-Elbridge leaned heavily on the duo of Ava Hildebrandt and Avery Yard to record a 3-2 victory over Hannibal last Tuesday and rise up to the .500 mark at 3-3.
Between Hildebrandt’s pair of goals and Yard’s one goal and one assist, the Eagles had enough to withstand Lena Turaj scoring twice for Hannibal and overcome 12 saves from Warriors goalie Sophia Salladin.
Another exciting game on Thursday saw J-E and Altmar-Parish-Williamstown end in a 3-3 draw. Yard struck for a pair of goals, with Ava White also converting. Abby Ahern and Riley Precourt each got an assist.
