soccer

The Byron-Bergen Bees went into Saturday's state championship semifinals in girls soccer with a track record of dominating opponents to the point of a more than 125-point differential on the season.

But they ran into a Sauquoit Valley team ready to play defense, rarely giving clear space to Mia Gray and Mackenzie Haegen, who each scored more than 40 points this season.

With 10 minutes left in the game, the Indians' Addison Lazarek scored her team's second goal, which held up to give Sauquoit Valley a 2-1 win in a game played at Cortland High School.

The Indians also struck first in the first half on a goal by Olivia Kalil.

A few minutes later, Emma Starowitz scored Byron-Bergen's only goal.

Sauquoit entered the game with two losses, while the Bees were undefeated.

For more on the game, visit UticaOD.com.

Photos by Kevin Smith/Cortland Voice

Press release:

The sixth-seeded Anne Arundel Community College men's soccer team fell to third-seed Genesee Community College, 5-0, in the opening round of the NJCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship Wednesday evening.

AACC keeper Edgar Garcia made seven saves in the loss, the first for the Riverhawks since October 6.

Genesee got on the board in the third minute with a penalty kick goal from Unai Cruz Prieto. The goal marked the first penalty kick conceded by the Riverhawks this season.

Spike Pope edged the Cougars ahead in the 11th minute with his eighth goal of the season, deflecting the ball off a diving Garcia.

The Cougars extended the lead to 3-0 in the 19th minute. Marc McCann stumbled as he curled in front of the net but managed to toe the ball back to Cruz Prieto for a one-timer past Garcia.

Cruz Prieto completed the hat trick in the 36th minute with a long loft ball that sailed into the upper 90.

AACC had limited offensive opportunities in the first half. Nehemias Rubio had the two best chances for the Riverhawks, but was whistled offside in the 30th minute and sent the ball just wide in the 42nd minute.

In the 61st minute, Matheus Spina tucked a lofty shot under the crossbar to extend Genesee's lead to 5-0.

The Riverhawks had several solid chances in the second half. In the 54^th minute, a shot by Sam Adams from the top of the box was blocked. Raffy Arias sent in a shot off a Juan DeNardo corner in the 71^st minute, only to see the shot blocked before getting to the cage.

Connor Pollack had a good look in the 84^th minute, but his header went just wide.

The Cougars held a 21-8 advantage in shots, including a 12-2 margin in shots on net. Genesee also led in corners (5-2) and fouls (11-4).

AACC (11-5) will face Raritan Valley (11-4-1) at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the consolation round.

Photos by Mason Singer.

Byron-Bergen remains invincible in girls soccer, winning the Far West Regional Championship over Frewsburg today 6-2.

The win sends the Bees to the state semifinals next week.

Goals:

• Mackenzie Hagen, asisted by Emma Starowitz
• Emma Starowitz, assisted by Mackenzie Hagen
• Mackenzie Hagen, assisted by Kendall Phillips
• Mackenzie Hagen, assisted by Ava Gray
• Emma Starowitz, assisted by Mackenzie Hagen
• Mia Gray, assisted by Grace Diquattro.

The Bees are now 22-0 on the season.  The state semifinal is Saturday at Cortland High School at 12:30 p.m.  The Class C state final is the following day in Cortland (location TBD) at 10 a.m.

Two undefeated teams but only one winner in the Section V Class C crossover game in Webster on Monday with Byron-Bergen beating Gananda in overtime 3-2.

Mia Gray, with an assist from Elizabeth Starowitz, scored with winning goal at minute 25 in overtime.

During regulation time, Mackenzie Hagen and Emma Starowitz, with an assist from Hagen, scored goals.

Goalie Novalee Pocock blocked 10 shots while giving up two goals for the first time this season.

The Bees are now 21-0 and will play in the Far West Regional Championship for Class C at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Niagara Wheatfield.

The 20th win of the season for the Byron-Bergen Girls Soccer team may not have been the team's largest margin of victory but it was still their biggest win.

It gave them the Class C2 title on Section V.

They beat Wheatland-Chili 2-0.

"All the girls played great tonight," Head Coach Wayne Hill said. "We've had a great year, but a huge shout out to Wheatland-Chili. They've given us three fantastic games this year. They are a really, really good team. We earned this one. They put us through our tests. So we're happy to come out on top."

Mia Gray scored the Bees' first goal at 27 minutes in the first half, unassisted.  Gray got the assist on the second goal, a shot by Elizabeth Starowitz at four minutes in the second half.

"I think we'll remember this as an intense game and how much of a relief we had after the two goals," Gray said after the game.

Wheatland-Chili managed only five shots on goal, all saves for goalie Novalee Pocock.  Byron-Bergen took 16 shots. 

The undefeated Bees have outscored opponents this year by 128 points and notched 19 shutouts this season.

"It's been really great and the team has great chemistry," Ava Wagner said. "We have a lot of fun at practice and during games, so it's been great."

Now the Bees face what may be their biggest challenge of the season, the Class C crossover game against Gananda.  

Gananda is also 20-0.

The game will be played at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Webster Schroeder.

Photos by Kristin Smith. To view more photos, click here.

With a 6-0 Section V semi-final win at Cal-Mum on Tuesday over Warsaw, the Byron Bergen Bees continued the team's Class C2 dominance in Girls Soccer.

The 19-0 Bees have outscored opponents this year by 126 points and notched 17 shutouts.

Scoring Summary against Warsaw (14-4):

• Mackenzie Hagen (Emma Starowitz)
• Mia Gray (Elizabeth Starowitz )
• Emma Starowitz (Mackenzie Hagen)
• Mia Gray (Emma Starowitz)
• Grace Capostagno (Ava Gray)
• Mackenzie Hagen (Emma Starowitz)

Warsaw managed only five shots on goal, all blocked by Novalee Pocock.

The Class C2 championship will pit Byron-Bergen against Wheatland (15-2-2) at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at Cal-Mum.

Photos by Howard Owens. Top photo: Mia Gray after a kick that hit the back of the net for the team's second goal of the game.

MacKenzie Hagen battles for the ball.

Elizabeth Starowitz

Elizabeth Starowitz

Julia Will

MacKenzie Hagen

MacKenzie Hagen

Mia Gray

Elizabeth Starowitz

MacKenzie Hagen

The Batavia Lady Devils soccer team ended its sectional run Tuesday evening in Brockport against Aquinas in a semi-final matchup with a 3-0 loss. 

Aquinas had 15 shots on goal, Batavia five. 

Julia Petry had 15 saves for Batavia.  Aquinas had 3 corners, with goals scored twice by Emily Silverstein and one by Mya Kotsch.

Batavia finishes the year 11-3-4.

"This team worked for each other and played with their hearts," said Head Coach Roger Hume. "It was a hard finish to a fantastic season.  We congratulate our seniors on a job well done and are looking forward to the future."

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

The Batavia Blue Devils boys soccer team won its first-round sectional game in Class B on Tuesday, beating Geneva 2-0.

Batavia came into the game as the #9 seed and Geneva was the #8 seed.

Goals were scored by Alex Bartz, assisted by Owen Halpin, and by Quintin Cummings, unassisted.

Submitted photo.

Next up: #1 seeded Hornell at Hornell on Saturday. Game time is 6:30 p.m.

The Byron-Bergen Bees beat the Batavia Blue Devils at Van Detta Stadium in boys soccer on Saturday, 4-2.

Goals for Byron-Bergen: 

• Gianni Ferrara to Jack Farner
• Colin Martin
• Jack Farner to Colin Martin
• Colin Martin to Jack Farner

Goals for Batavia: 

• Owen Halpin assisted by Quintin Cummings
• Matt Wittmeyer

Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.

The Batavia boys soccer team improved to 2-0 on the season with a 5-0 win on Wednesday over East/LAFYM/SWN/NE N Douglass.

Owen Halpin led the way with a hat trick with Alex Bartz and Dima Havens also scoring.

Both of Batavia's wins have been shutouts led by goalkeeper Jack Pickard and the defensive line of Ryan Dillon, Hunter Mileham, Rashawd Christie, and Trevor Tryon. 

Photo and info submitted by Graham Halpin, Batavia Boys Soccer Varsity Coach

Pembroke pulled out a 4-3 OT win in overtime in girls soccer at home on Tuesday night.

Attica Goals: 

• Skylar Savage (28 min)
• MacKenzie McLeod (42 min) 
• Skylar Savage (45 min)  

• Kayla Weyrauch (10th grade) (49 min) assisted by senior captain Karli Houseknecht
• Kayla Weyrauch (10th grade) (52 min) assisted by Morgan Coniber
• Morgan Coniber (9th grade) (79 min) to tie game, assisted by senior captain Karli Houseknecht
• Morgan Coniber (9th grade) (87 min overtime goal to win) assisted by captain Seneca Calderon

The Dragon's goalkeeper, Arianna Hale, made 12 saves. 

Leaders on defense were Ameilia Berghorn, Isabel Breeden, and Emma Groff, who all contributed multiple stops and a strong defensive line, said Head Coach April Meier.

Photos by Kristine Groves

Rochester-based Flower City Union, a professional soccer team, played its second game of the season at Van Detta Stadium on Thursday, losing to LA Force 3-0.

The team is now 3-11 on the season. The team is in fourth in the National Independent Soccer Association, Group A Division.

It travels the region, playing home games at different venues, in order to build a larger local fan base.

Top Photo: Midfielder Alex Ainscough.

Photos by Philip Casper.

Defender Andriy Demydiv

Midfielder Alex Ainscough

Midfielder Alex Ainscough

Midfielder Lukas Fernandes

 Forward Andre Deas

Flower City Union, a professional soccer team in Rochester playing its inaugural season, is coming to Batavia on May at 7:30 p.m. for a game against California United Strikers.

The teams are part of the National Independent Soccer Association, a third division professional soccer league.  The team is partly fan-owned.

"This is very cool to have this game in Batavia," said Michael Bromley, athletic director for Batavia City Schools.

The game will be played at Van Detta Stadium.

The price of the game is $10. Tickets can be purchased at tickets.flowercityunion.com.