CENTRAL NEW YORK – Still unbeaten as last week got underway, the Bishop Ludden girls soccer team hoped to stay that way as it had earned the no. 3 spot in the first state Class D rankings of the fall.
The Gaelic Knights’ biggest test of the young season came last Friday, when it faced unbeaten, state Class C no. 4-ranked Tully and, in a tense defensive battle, was able to edge the Black Knights 1-0.
All that Ludden needed came from star sophomore Ashley Pawelczyk, who, unassisted, put a shot past Tully goalkeeper Gabriella Tordel.
Held to just six shots overall, the Gaelic Knights had to depend on its defense – which it did, containing the Black Knights from start to finish anchored by seven saves from Julia Smith.
Two nights earlier, against Onondaga/LaFayette, the Gaelic Knights spread around its production and prevailed by a score of 4-1 for its fifth win in a row.
Faith Griffin led the way, scoring twice as Lexi Sheen piled up a career-best three assists. Elizabeth Gaughan had one goal and one assist. Pawelczyk earned the other goal, her fifth of the season.
West Genesee had gone up and down throughout its early schedule, but returned to good form last Wednesday night when it hosted Liverpool and, thanks to a quick start from Gio Vigliotti, defeated the Warriors 2-0.
Granted, the Wildcats did catch Liverpool at a good time, playing a brual stretch of six games in eight days and fresh off an exhausting double-overtime win over Baldwinsville the night before.
But credit WG for taking full advantage as, twice in the first half, Vigliotti found the net, once unassisted, the other assisted by Anna Nelson. Then the Wildcats’ defense took charge, limiting Liverpool to just four shots all night.
An exciting game followed on Friday against Saranac Lake in the opening round of the Finger Lakes Cup at Skaneateles, with the Wildcats able to prevail 3-2 in overtime.
It took a converted corner kick in the extra period to finally get WG in front for good, having seen Vigliotti net two more goals and the other going to Sofia Snyder. Eva Poissant and Anna Nelson earned assists, with each of the eight saves from Orr and Julia Poissant important.
Somehow, WG returned a day later in the final and stunned host Skaneateles 1-0, the lone goal coming from Claire McManus in the second half off a feed from Marissa Closson. The Wildcats held the Lakers to just five shots overall.
Jordan-Elbridge has proven itself as, perhaps, the top team in the OHSL Patriot American division, reinforcing that point last Monday during an 8-1 romp over Manlius Pebble Hill.
In one of the best offensive performances in program history, the Eagles scored four times in each half, which helped J-E accept a 3-1 defeat to Pulaski two nights later as it fell to 3-4-1 overall.
