CENTRAL NEW YORK – While it inched closer to the Salt City Athletic Conference Metro division regular-season championship, the West Genesee girls soccer team also inched up the state Class AA rankings.
In fact, the Wildcats were in the no. 10 spot when it took on Baldwinsville last Tuesday night in Camillus and, completing a regular-season sweep, fought past the Bees 2-1.
This game did not much resemble the dominant 3-0 win WG put together at Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium against B’ville in September, for it took all 80 minutes to prevail in this rematch.
Up 1-0 at halftime, the Wildcats saw the Bees get on the board in the second half but equaled it, Maria Snyder leading the way as she assisted on both goals, one each by Addison Kensey and Anna Nelson.
In the opening round of the Finger Lakes Cup at Skaneateles Friday night against Whitesboro, the Wildcats again displayed tremendous defense while earning its seventh shutout of the season and prevailing 2-0.
Only the work of Whitesboro goalie Maggie Aiello (15 saves) kept it close, WG staying patient until the second half, when it broke the 0-0 deadlock thanks to goals by Bridet Petrus and Chelsea Donaldson as Kelly O’Donnell and Tori Hulbert picked up assists.
This was just a tune-up, though, for the complete performance WG put together in Saturday’s 8-0 romp over Central Square.
At the forefront was Kensey and Riley Butler, each scoring twice, and Nelson, earning a goal and two assists. Maria Snyder got a goal and assist, with Bella Togias and Alyssa Winters also finding the net. Donaldson, Petrus, O’Donnell, Hulbert and Sofia Snyder also had assists.
Meanwhile, Bishop Ludden remained unranked in Class C despite its 10-2 record, which it built upon last Monday night with a 7-0 romp over Manlius Pebble Hill and another Ashley Pawelczyk hat trick.
Despite all the Trojans’ efforts to contain her Pawelczyk scored three times, adding an assist as she now had 18 goals and 13 assists on the season.
Elizabeth Gaughan earned a pair of assists to go with her lone goal. Evelyn Allers, Lexi Sheen and Brynn Marvin also found the net, Sophia Chemotti contributing an assist.
At Altmar-Parish-Wililamstown two days later Ludden jumped out to a 4-0 lead by halftime and prevailed 5-1, Pawelczyk scoring twice as Jane Fallon got a goal and assist. Allers and Grace Olivia had the other goals, with Gaughan, Sheen, Chemotti and Charlotte Hsiao all gaining their own assists.
A far closer game Friday at Fabius-Pompey saw the Falcons mostly contain the Gaelic Knights, but Pawelczyk scored in the first half and it held up the rest of the way for a 1-0 victory that moved Ludden to 13-2 with only Thursday’s regular-season finale at Tully remaining before the sectional playoffs.
