ONONDAGA COUNTY – Though not quite in the role of overwhelming favorites in the area Class B ranks, the Westhill and Marcellus girls soccer teams still were in good shape going into October.
And on a perfect fall Saturday afternoon, these long-time rivals got together, and it was the Warriors who got the best of it, keeping the Mustangs off the board and earning a 2-0 victory.
Ultimately, it was Hannah Thayer who made the difference, taking part in both scoring plays as she netted a goal and contributed an assist when Elle Herrera found the net.
Marcellus did not lack for opportunities in this game, taking five shots, but seeing Kate Bendall stop all of them for the Warriors as Mustangs goalie Josephine Leubner had eight saves. These two sides will meet again on Oct. 14.
Westhill was no. 20 in the first state Class B rankings of the season when it traveled to Cazenovia last Tuesday night and, led by Lilyanna Kinsella, turned back the Lakers 3-1.
Kinsella did was put in two of her team’s three goals and assisted Herrera’s tally. Molly Dorfman assisted on one of the two Kinsella tallies to help negate Raeanne Thompson’s goal for Cazenovia. Between them, Kate Bendall and Lizzie Horner made seven saves.
As that went on, Marcellus was shutting out Chittenango 4-0. Those four goals came from four different players – Jadyn Baker, Ava Aupperle, Emma Roseboom and Sara Mielnicki.
When Westhill had its own turn against the Bears two nights later, it marked the first time it had played at home all season, and Kaylin Battista proceeded to make it memorable.
All that Battista did in the Warriors’ 4-1 victory over Chittenango was net a three-goal hat trick, with Molly Dorfman also converting. Herrera got two assists, with Thayer and Hannah Goodness also getting assists.
Marcellus visited Hannibal that same Thursday and rolled to a 6-1 win over that other group of Warriors, and like it did with Chittenango nicely spread its production around with six different goal-scorers.
Roseboom put up two assists, with Lucy Powell adding an assist. Mielnicki finished with one goal and one assist as Baker, Emma MacLachlan, Katie MacLachlan, Rosa Stasyuk and Lilly Schultz also converted.
Skaneateles had started the season 1-5, but then put together a three-game win streak and, with last Tuesday night’s 4-0 shutout of Homer, reached the .500 mark.
Paige Willard, scoring twice, and Julia O’Connor, with a goal and assist, paced a well-balanced Lakers attack. Reese Gaidis earned the other goal as Maddy Ramsgard and Isabella Arroyo chimed in with assists.
Looking for five in a row at Alibrandi Stadium two nights later, Skaneateles traveled to Christian Brothers Academy and prevailed again, edging the Brothers 3-2.
Maeve McNeil converted to put Skaneateles on the board, but more was needed, and Willard provided it, not only getting the second goal, but also scoring on a penalty kick that proved the game-winner.
Not resting at all, Skaneateles then netted nine goals in the first half of Friday’s game against Altmar-Parish-Williamstown, going on to rout the Rebels 10-0.
McNeil earned four of those goals to set a career mark, while Arroyo had two goals and two assists. Willard had one goal and one assist as Lillian Kilz and Ella Bobbett also converted. Assists went to Gaidis, Ramsgard and Kathleen Reed.
