CENTRAL NEW YORK – At least for now, the long-brewing girls soccer rivalry between Westhill and Marcellus is only a regular-season matter.
The move of the Warriors to the Class A ranks for the post-season, away from the Mustangs in Class B, keeps the two sides from adding to their long history of post-season showdowns.
Thus, all the neighborhood bragging rights for 2023 were at stake last Monday night when these teams met for the only time this fall – and led by Hannah Goodness, Westhill emerged on top by a 2-0 margin.
As is so often the case, when these two teams play the vast knowledge of each other’s tendencies leads to a lot of defensive domination and few real scoring opportunities.
Yet when the Warriors did get them, it didn’t miss, thanks to Goodness, who netted both of her team’s goals – one unassisted, the other assisted by eighth-grader Schuyler Auringer.
Doing the rest, Westhill’s strong defense smothered Marcellus and limited it one direct shot on net while improving to 6-1 and halting the Mustangs’ season-opening five-game win streak.
Marcellus responded quite well to this setback, unloading last Wednesday on Hannibal/Csato-Meridian with a season-best offensive effort in an 11-1 romp.
Claire Card set a career mark with four goals, adding an assist. Janie Powell had her own three-goal hat trick as Cece Powell and Corinne Aldrich each scored twice and earned one assist.
Jadyn Baker helped them all out, piling up three assists as Lexie Fragnito tacked on a goal and Marielle Kennedy earned her first career varsity assist.
Then Marcellus got to double digits again Saturday in a 10-1 demolition of Mynderse Academy (Seneca Falls), with Aldrich, Baker, Cece Powell and Allie Kaup each scoring twice. Card and Drew Johnson both had one goal and one assist, with Lexie Fragnito earning three assists and single assists going to Marielle Kennedy and Janie Powell.
A far bigger game pitted Westhill against Class AA powerhouse East Syracuse Minoa, and for 100 minutes the two sides battled it out until it ended in a 2-2 draw.
Goodness conitnued her great week with another goal, Bella Gallardo also finding the net and Hannah Dorfman getting an assist.
Yet even though the Warriors held ESM star Leah Rehm off the board, Michaela Hurlbut and Ayzei Winas did score for the Spartans, and it took nine saves from Taylor Falcone to keep Westhill even.
Away from all this, Skaneateles earned an impressive victory of its own last Thursday when it went to Alibrandi Stadium and fought past Christian Brothers Academy 1-0 in its only game action of the week.
Reese Gaidis converted in the first half, what turned out to be the game’s only goal. For the rest of the day it was the Lakers’ defense making news, only allowing five CBA shots, all stopped by Mara Stanton.
