CENTRAL NEW YORK – Through little fault of its own, the East Syracuse Minoa girls soccer team largely watched the early portion of the regular season as all of its neighbors were far more active.
Not until last Tuesday did the Spartans play its second game of the season – and finally get into the win column, easily earning a 5-0 shutout over Syracuse United, the combined city high school team.
Any time she got open, Leah Rehm seemed to convert, ultimately piling up four of ESM’s five goals. Ashley Praxl had the other tally, with assists credited to Bailey Rehm, Laura Markert and Michaela Hurlbut.
Two nights later, at Central Square, the Spartans won again, 5-1, with Leah Rehm showcasing her passing skills. Her three assists was part of an attack where five different players scored, Bailey Rehm joined by Leah Chavoustie, Sophia Brooks and Ayzlei Winans on that part.
Best of all, though, was what ESM did against Cicero-North Syracuse on Saturday afternoon, taking apart the Northstars on the way to a 7-0 victory.
It was 5-0 by halftime, with the C-NS defense overwhelmed by Leah Rehm as she added four more goals to her collection. Bailey Rehm got three assists as single tallies went to Winans, Praxl and Brooks, Khloe Welch adding an assist.
Fayetteville-Manlius was coming off its first defeat of the season Sept. 9 to Monroe-Woodbury, a 2-0 decision, when it hosted Liverpool last Tuesday night and cranked up its attack again.
In a 4-2 victory over the Warriors, the Hornets saw Morgan Goodman nab two more goals and an assist, but get some help from Elyssa Barnhart and Una Vlasak, each of whom also found the net. Ashley Seidberg added an assist.
Then it was a local showdown on Thursday night between F-M and Jamesville-DeWitt on the Red Rams’ home turf, and the Hornets got the best of it, blanking the Red Rams 2-0.
Defensively, F-M proved quite effective, limiting J-D to just three shots all evening. And though she remained the focus of the Rams’ defense, Goodman still managed to score a goal and assist on her team’s other tally by Macey Davey.
J-D had endured three consecutive shutouts against tough opponents (Cicero-North Syracuse, North Rockland, Rockville South Side) before ending that skid last Tuesday with a 7-0 romp over Auburn.
Three different Rams – Noor El-Zammar, Madelyn Murphy and Capri Montanaro – earned two goals apiece. Liliana Santoro added a goal and assist, with Brooke Bort and Meghan Kenna adding assists.
Christian Brothers Academy battled the rain and Phoenix last Tuesday and conquered both of them, beating the Firebirds 2-1. Cara Macaluso stopped eight of Phoenix’s nine shots, while Ciara Duggan and Neveah Bacheyle earned goals, assists credited to Emma Hill and Katherine Williamson.
Playing again on Saturday, CBA handled Hannibal/Cato-Meridian 6-0, with Williamson scoring twice and single goals going to Morgia, Bacheyle, Olivia Jones and Francesca Canzano. Hill, Lauren Zollo and Maureen Murphy earned assists
Meanwhile, neighbors and rivals met as Bishop Grimes faced Manlius Pebble Hill last Tuesday and the Cobras claimed a 1-0 victory over the Trojans for its first win of the season.
Olivia Bitz was credited with the game’s lone goal, and Grimes made it hold, turning back all kinds of MPH chances as Bailee Halsey’s 11 saves produced a shutout.
MPH turned around on Thursday and beat Onondaga/LaFayette 4-1, pulling away in the second half thanks to a well-balanced attack.
Peyton Beck, with a goal and two assists, led the way. Emily Fadda-Conrey had one goal and one assist, with Omia Gaines-Howard and Lilah Temes also converting. Mira Fadda-Conrey stopped 14 of the 15 shots she faced.
In Friday’s action, Grimes lost, 3-0, to Tully, with Halsey recording nine saves, but the Black Knights seeing Madelyn Lund score twice and assist on her team’s other goal, by Gabrielle Flatt.
