soccer

The Byron-Bergen Lady Bees lost 2-0 to Carle Place of Section VIII in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C girls soccer tournament this morning at Homer High School.

While a defeat at this stage of the season could be especially disappointing, Coach Wayne Hill said his squad, which features several talented underclasswomen, already is thinking about what it needs to do to get back to the state Final Four next year.

“The girls are already talking about it,” Hill said by telephone as the team traveled back home. “I can tell you what their goal is for next year: They want to be back here.”

Hill said his girls know that they have to get stronger, physically – something that revealed itself in today’s match.

“They (Carle Place) played more aggressive than we did. And, as a result, we didn't have time to settle the ball and play our kind of game,” he said. “So that's an improvement we're going to have to make for next year.”

He said the Frogs, 9-4-1, took B-B’s leading scorer, eighth-grader Mia Gray, out of her game and, generally, took the Bees out of their rhythm.

“They were man-marking her (Gray) the whole game, and made it really tough for us,” he said.

Senior Alexandra Feit scored both goals for Carle Place – one in each half.

The Bees, 19-4, had a couple of scoring opportunities in the first half, Hill said.

“We brought the ball down the sideline -- one down the left side and one down the right side.  And both crosses were great, but there wasn't anybody waiting for the ball in the middle.”

They had another great chance in the second half but, again, failed to convert.

Hill said that B-B goalkeeper Brooke Jarkiewicz made 15 saves while the Carle Place goalie, Jenna Lenihan, had three or four saves.

Looking ahead, Hill said the focus will be on adding power to match the team’s speed and quickness.

“Well, we've been saying that all year that the kids have to get in the weight room,” he said. “They just need to get bigger and stronger. The ball touches are great. Speed is great. We’ve just got to learn to be a little more physical.”

Carle Place moves into Sunday’s Championship game against the winner of this afternoon’s game between AuSable Valley (Section VII) vs. Notre Dame (Section IV).

Previously: Byron-Bergen girls soccer team competing for New York State Class C championship this weekend

Byron-Bergen Central School sports fans are abuzz these days thanks to the exploits of the Lady Bees girls soccer team that will compete in this weekend’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C tournament.

Coach Wayne Hill’s team has advanced to the state’s Final Four by virtue of its three most recent post-season victories:

• 4-1 over Harley-Allendale-Columbia for the Section V Class C2 championship;

• 3-2 over previously undefeated Warsaw in a Class C crossover match;

• 1-0 over Frewsburg of Section VI over the weekend in the Far West Regionals.

The Lady Bees, 19-3, will be riding that momentum into a 10 a.m. Saturday battle against Carle Place (Long Island) of Section VIII. The game will be played at Homer High School.

The winner will play for the state title at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at SUNY Cortland versus either AuSable Valley or Elmira Notre Dame.

“This is the farthest a Byron-Bergen team has ever gone,” Hill said, adding that the sectional crown is the school's first since 2013. “We never made it past regionals before. So, this in unchartered territory for us.”

Hill took over as varsity coach in 2015 after serving as an assistant in Batavia and has built a powerhouse squad led by eighth-grader Mia Gray, an elite talent who earned Genesee Region Player of the Year honors with league-leading 27 goals and 18 assists.

“She drives the team,” Hill said, speaking of Gray. “She’s a fantastic young player who is incredibly gifted with the ball. She never turns it over. She sees the field very, very well – and she’s an exceptional dribbler, passer, shooter and defender.”

Gray has plenty of support, Hill was quick to add, in sophomores Mackenzie Hagen (21 goals) and Emma Starowitz (14 goals and 11 assists), junior defensive standout Ava Wagoner and eighth grader Elizabeth Starowitz -- a jayvee call-up who scored her first varsity goal in the 3-2 win over Warsaw.

In the victory over Frewsburg, freshman Ava Gray (Mia’s sister) scored on a penalty kick late in the first half for the game’s lone goal. Ava Gray has six goals this season.

And there’s senior goalkeeper Brooke Jarkiewicz who has given up only 12 goals in 22 games while making 109 saves.

Statistically, the Lady Bees have dominated, scoring 80 goals in their 22 games while allowing 12 goals. Their three losses were by 1-0 scores.

Other members of the team are seniors Hallie Wade, Sasha Schramm, Alayna Streeter, Emma Will and Mikaylah Pocock; juniors Julia Will, Emma Dormann, Grace Capostagno, Kendall Phillips and Stella Briggs; sophomores Megan Zwerka-Snyder, Victoria Rogoyski and Novalee Pocock; freshman Ashley Schlenker-Stephens, and eighth graders Grace Diquattro and Megan Jarkiewicz.

Gina Gray, Grace Campbell and Luke Audsley are the assistant coaches.

With so many players set to return for at least a couple more seasons – plus strong modified and junior varsity programs – the future looks bright for B-B girls soccer.

“We are going to be good for a while,” Hill said.

Submitted photo: Byron-Bergen varsity girls soccer team gather for a team picture following their Far West Regional victory over Frewsburg.

For the third straight year Batavia boys Varsity soccer took on Livonia in the Sec V B1 playoffs and for the third straight year they fell to them, tonight with a score of 3 to 1.  Batavia did put up a fight controlling the ball for some stints during the game. They did only managed only 5 shots on goal to Livonia's 21. 

Batavia's defense was very busy with 12 saves for the evening. Livonia kept the pressure up on the defense scoring quickly at the beginning of both periods. 

Congratulations to the Batavia Boys Varsity soccer team for a winning season.

The Oakfield-Alabama/Elba girls soccer team ran into a great goalie for Canisteo-Greenwood in their final game of the season leading to a 4-2 loss in a shootout.

The Hornets finish 9-7-1.

Goalie Lily Davis made three saves.

The CG goalie made 32.

Christina Bartholomew and Macy Altamirano made their kicks in the shootout.

Head Coach David Carpino said, "We dominated play and possession but ran into a solid goal keep and hit posts and just couldn't put one in."

Photos by Kristin Smith.

Oakfield-Alabama's girls' soccer team beat Wheatland-Chili on a foggy night in Oakfield 3-1.

Photos by Kristin Smith.  For more, click here.

The Pembroke Dragons won their homecoming game in soccer on Saturday night, 3-2 over Akron in double overtime. Jonathan Suro scored the winning goal.

Photo and info submitted by Mary Friedmann

The facility manager for the Batavia Soccer Park on Bank Street Road said that he is pleasantly surprised over the number of teams signed up to compete in the 2021 edition of the annual Empire Cup & College Showcase.

About 90 boys teams and 70 girls teams will make their way to the 16-field soccer complex over the next two weekends. That is about 40-percent less than usual, but a positive sign when considering the tournament was canceled last year.

“It’s definitely a better turnout that I expected, which is great. That leads me to believe that things are opening up again, including sports,” said Michael Henderson, of Fairport, coordinator of this and other activities at the park, which is owned and maintained by CY Farms and Batavia Turf.

Henderson, a teacher at Northeast College Preparatory High in Rochester, said teams from all over New York, plus Connecticut and Western Pennsylvania have entered. Competition will take place in age groups starting at 10 years old, all the way up to 19 years old.

The first weekend (May 8-9) is for the boys and the second weekend (May 15-16) is for the girls. Games are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Henderson said the schedule is “pretty active,” with 12 to 13 games going on at once. Each team will play a minimum of three games.

“We’re careful, however, working with the New York State Governor’s Office, to make sure we follow the (COVID-19) guidelines,” he said. “Unfortunately, we won’t have any teams from Canada, which usually sends a large amount, due to travel restrictions.”

In its sixth year, the Empire Cup & College Showcase features clubs at different levels of play – some Elite or Premier as well as strong travel league teams, Henderson said. Youth in the 15-19 age groups will have more than family watching them as the tournament serves as a venue for college coaches to see potential recruits.

Henderson called the tournament – one of several on the soccer park’s schedule this season – “an economic kick to the area.”

“We always give a heads-up to our local restaurants because if we don’t they will be inundated,” he said. “A group of 15 to 20 kids coming into eat, it fills you up fast. Also, we contract with local hotels and try to keep it within the Batavia area.”

He credited the staff at Batavia Turf and CY Farms for continuing to do “an amazing job” for the community.

“For the local people, if you have a couple kids in the family, you can go to one place to watch them play rather than running all over the city to watch them,” he said. “It’s an awesome park.”

The park, located across the road from Cornerstone Church, hosts the Rochester District Youth Soccer League, which includes teams from Batavia, Le Roy, Pavilion and other Western New York communities.

For more about the Empire Cup & College Showcase and other information, go to www.bataviasoccerpark.com.

From Jim Dillon:

Batavia Soccer Club has extended their online registration until April 18. It has been a difficult year and many people didn't receive notification of the online registration in the manner that they have in the past.

Registration is open for the U6 (players turning 5 or 6 in 2021), U8 (players turning 7 or 8 in 2021) and U10 (players turning 9 or 10 in 2021).

Detailed information on these programs can be found at BataviaSoccerClub.com.

We want to make sure that every interested family has an opportunity to register. Please feel free to contact us through our website or Facebook page with any questions.

Please click on this link to sign up and please share. Thank you!

Press release:

We would like to take the time to congratulate Montana Dieter on signing a celebratory letter of intent to compete at Genesee Community College this fall.

Montana plans on joining the Lady Cougars Soccer team at GCC under the guidance of Coach Jeff Reyngoudt. During Montana’s time here at Pembroke Central School she has been a standout in both Soccer and Cheerleading.  

As a member of the Lady Dragons Soccer Team, Montana has been a four-year starter at forward since her freshmen year. During her tenure with the Lady Dragons, she has put together an impressive resume, which includes 26 goals and 18 assists. Montana plans to use her immense speed and shiftiness to continue her success at the next level.

While attending GCC, Montana plans on studying to become a Registered Nurse. Montana is extremely excited and honored to continue her career at the next level, competing for the Cougars. 

Coach April Meier said, “I would like to congratulate Montana for her success and accomplishments while on the Pembroke Varsity soccer team. I know she will go on to do great things with this opportunity to play soccer at GCC next fall. Montana is a highly talented athlete her combined qualities of speed athleticism, quick decision making and mind for game strategy make her a formidable and skilled offensive player. It gives me great pride and pleasure to see the athletes from our program pursuing the sports they love in college. Best of luck to Montana and the GCC Cougars in their upcoming fall 2021 season!”

Submitted photos and press release:

Byron-Bergen High School seniors Bianca Brumsted (top photo, second from left) and Eden Goff (bottom photo, second from left) are taking their commitment to soccer to the next level by signing letters of intent to play the collegiate game.

Brumsted will attend Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pa., where she plans to study Criminology and Forensic Psychology. Goff will attend Monroe Community College in Rochester, where she plans to study Criminal Justice.

“On the field, Bianca is known for her high soccer IQ and her fantastic skill level," said Byron-Bergen Athletic Director Rich Hannan. "However, what stands out the most to me is her ability to lead her teammates.

"As for Eden, if there is one word to describe her on the field, it's tenacious. She can always be counted on to perform at her best and she brings out the best in her teammates as well. I wish them both the very best.”

Brumsted has played premier soccer in Rochester for Empire United for six years. She also played two years of Junior Varsity and two years of Varsity soccer at Byron-Bergen. While playing for Byron-Bergen, she was captain her senior year, was a two-time Genesee League All-Star, and was named to the GLOW Super-12 first team.

Brumsted chose Chatham University because it is a small university in a large city with a degree path in Criminology and Psychology. She also formed a positive connection with their Women’s Soccer Coach Betsy Warren, whom Brumsted sees as a positive role model.

“My favorite memory is making it to the Section V finals this past season,” Brumsted said. “As a team, we were young and inexperienced but we went all the way to the finals. As a captain I did my best to help be a leader, coach on the field, and be a positive role model for the younger players on our roster. I'm soproud of our team.”

Goff played four years of Varsity Soccer with Byron-Bergen, where she is a scholar-athlete and was named a Genesee League All-Star her senior year. Goff chose Monroe Community College because of the good Criminal Justice program and out of her desire to remain closer to home. She is also excited to benefit from joining a great soccer team.

“I would like to thank Coach Hill for coaching me the last four years and for helping me improve as a player,” Goff said. “I would also like to thank my team for making my senior season one I will never forget.”

Top photo: Bianca Brumstead (front left center) with her family as she signs a letter of intent; Coach Wayne Hill stands in back.

Bottom photo: Eden Goff (front left center) with her family as she signs a letter of intent. In back are Coach Wayne Hill, left, and Coach Chris Chilano.

Photo credits: Susan Kuszlyk

Section V Athletics announced eight scholarship winners today to fall sports student-athletes, including one from Genesee County.

The $250 scholarship is awarded to students who excel in scholastics and athletics. Winners are selected based on a letter of recommendation from their coach, their high school transcript and activities sheet, as well as their responses to application questions. There were more than 80 applications for this season’s scholarships.

Press release from Section V:

Girls Soccer: Hope Hersom, Byron-Bergen High School
Hope has been playing soccer for six years, and also participates in basketball and track and field.

She says that highlights from this season include “getting to play my last season with an amazingly talented and young team, making it to the final round of sectionals, and all the positive support I received from my school, family and friends.”

In the fall Hope plans to attend college to study Mechanical Engineering.

She shares that one word that best describes herself is “positive -- no matter what the score was, what was going on, or whether it was a game or practice, I always walked off the field with a smile and encouraging words.”

Notre Dame High School dominated Jasper-Troupsburg all game, winning 4-0. Autumn Mathisen earned game MVP, and scored 3 of the 4 goals of the game.

It is the first Section V title in girls soccer for Notre Dame.

Photos by Philip Casper.

Captains Arabella Rogers #23, Autumn Mathisen #22, and Rachel Nickerson #15.

Notre Dame is the Section D2 champion.

Autumn Mathisen #22 kicking her third goal of the game.

Hannah Tenney

Arabella Rogers

Coach Jarrod Clark

Autumn Mathisen #22 with a front flip throw in.

Sophi Johnston

Byron-Bergen's girls' soccer team came up a goal short in an overtime loss to Geneseo on Wednesday night to miss out on a Section V Class C1 title.

Emma Starowitz scored the Bees' only goal.

Athletic Director Rich Hannan (who submitted the team photo) said, "we couldn't be more proud of them! OT losses always hurt but they stayed positive. A great group of kids."

Also in girls' soccer sectional finals on Wednesday, Le Roy lost to Bath-Haverling 5-1.

For the second year in a row, the Le Roy Girls Soccer Team is heading to a sectional championship game after beating Mynderse 5-0.

They'll play #1 seed Bath tonight. Game time is 6 p.m. in Bath.

Maddie Keister scored two goals in the win over Mynderse. Bella Condidorio, Bryn Luckey, and Kailyn Tresco also each scored a goal. Keri Biggins had eight saves.

Also in girls soccer, Byron-Bergen plays for a sectional title at 7:30 p.m. against Geneseo in Avon.

Video by Tim McArdle.

The Notre Dame Girls Soccer Team will play for a sectional title tomorrow night for the first time in program history.

Last night, the Fighting Irish beat Andover 3-0. Sky Colontonio, Emma Sisson, and Arabella Rogers each scored goals. Goalkeeper Rebecka Nickerson had seven saves.

The team plays Jasper-Troupsburg at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Van Detta Stadium in Batavia.

Photo and info provided by Jarrod Clark.

Bryn Luckey became Le Roy's all-time leading scorer in girls soccer last Saturday and she was honored last night at home before the Knights' quarterfinal sectional game against Waterloo in Class B2.

Luckey's road to 80:

• 2016-13
• 2017-22
• 2018-21
• 2019-13
• 2020-11

Le Roy beat Waterloo 5-0 to advance to the semifinals.

Photo and information submitted by Tim McArdle.

Last evening at Van Detta Stadium the Batavia Girls Varsity Soccer Team defeated Midlakes in a thriller three-hour Section V class B1 quarter final game by a score of 2-1 in two shootouts.

Batavia jumped to an early 1-0 lead eight minutes before halftime on a tip in goal by Olivia Halpin. In the second half, 13 minutes later Midlakes score off a corner kick tip in by Batavia's goal keeper to even the score at 1.

Both teams were evenly matched and shots ending the regular play was 11-10 in Batavia's favor. Batavia's Ava Reinhart had a chance in the second overtime to win the game with a miss in the top right corner crossbar. 

In the third overtime Batavia's next best chance was on a pass from Olivia Halpin to Piper Harloff that just missed in front of Midlakes' goalkeeper.  After the fourth overtime, the game went unchanged to a fifth overtime shootout. Both teams scored three goals and missed two.

Then a final sixth overtime decided in a single round robin play. Isabella Walsh scored for Batavia and goal keeper Maddie Barone stopped Midlakes on her attempt to end the game by a 2-1 win to advance Batavia to the class B1 semifinals versus eight seed Greece Olympia this upcoming Monday evening.

Greece Olympia won by forfeit to undefeated number one seed Pal-Mac because of their school is shutdown due to COVID-19.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Photos by Steve Ognibene.

Last evening at Van Detta stadium the red hot Batavia Blue Devils boys soccer team hosted the Akron Tigers in a tight matched game to settle on a 1-1 tie in double overtime.

Junior Nick Grover scored for Batavia seven minutes in the first half to lead the Devils by 1. Akron ties the score three minutes later from a corner kick tip in by senior Adam Mietz in front of Batavias keeper. 

In a seesaw effort Batavia controlled the game by outshooting Akron 14-5 in the game. Early in the second overtime Batavia’s Collin Dunn just missed to end it for the Devils. Both teams settled for the tie in the game and their records are both 6-3-1.

Batavia’s last regular season game is away this Saturday at Greece Odyssey Academy in Rochester.

Photos by Steve Ognibene.

To view and or purchase prints, click here.