Callie Draggett and the Fredonia Hillbillies will start their quest for a fourth straight Section VI title next week.
OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms
It was a historic year for girls sports at Southwestern last year and it began in the fall with the soccer team. Having won the sectional title in years past the Trojans had never advanced to the Far West Regional game, but that changed when they knocked off rival Fredonia in the Section VI Class B crossover game 3-0.
Graduating just five seniors and returning several of its key players, Southwestern has an opportunity to get back to that stage.
Southwestern returns a pair of OBSERVER/Post-Journal All-Stars in seniors Mallory Atwater and Kaylyn Carnes. Atwater is the leader of the Trojans’ backline that kept 11 clean sheets, including holding opponents off the scoreboard in the Section VI playoffs. Carnes controlled the game from the midfield for the Trojans and led the team in scoring with 16 goals and six assists.
Up front, junior Avery Johnson will also look to build off a big year during which she scored 10 goals and slotted three assists.
While Southwestern eyes winning back-to-back sectional titles, Fredonia looks for its fourth straight after catching fire last postseason to complete the threepeat in Class B1.
Fredonia’s Cece Tonelli had four goals and an assist last season as an eighth-grader.
OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms
The path back to the top will be a tough one with the graduation of OBSERVER/Post-Journal All-Star midfielder Ella Koopman, who provided three goals and four assists on top of stout defense that kept opponents scoreless on the run to a Class B1 title. Returning OBSERVER/Post-Journal All-Star defender, sophomore Callie Draggett, will figure to play a critical role for the ‘Billies again and returning sophomore goalkeeper Naomi Muck will look to build off her stellar playoffs. Freshman Cece Tonelli could be in line for a breakout year after scoring four goals and collecting one assist as an eighth-grader.
Another team that knows something about turning over star players and still finding success is the Frewsburg Bears, who will be looking for their sixth straight sectional title. Graduating a pair of OBSERVER/Post-Journal All-Stars in Addison Hultberg and Gracie Conlan, the Bears have big shoes to fill at midfield and the backline, respectively.
However, top scorer and OBSERVER/Post-Journal All-Star Taytum Jimerson comes back after scoring 20 goals and 15 assists in her junior season. Twin sister Ava added nine goals and five assists after recovering from a devastating knee injury. On top of that, sophomore Audrey Eckwahl will look to build off her 14-goal and eight-assist season a year ago, Kealy Caflisch will follow up a junior campaign that yielded nine goals and four assists, and another Jimerson sister, Jaden, could be in line for a big freshman season after scoring six goals and five assists in nine games as an eighth-grader.
Falconer/Cassadaga Valley was a bounce away from being one of the reigning sectional champions, falling short to Fredonia in the Class B1 final on a golden goal.
After adding Maple Grove to the mix this fall, the Golden Cougars bring back one of the area’s best midfielders in sophomore Julianna Roth, who scored six goals and six assists as an OBSERVER/Post-Journal All-Star. The remaining top five scorers also return with three juniors in Bailey Olson, who scored 10 goals and seven assists; Mary Lundmark, who slotted nine goals and two assists; and Brynn Helms, who added eight goals and four assists. Senior Natalie Dossey scored seven goals.
Fredonia goalkeeper Naomi Muck was one of the reasons the Hillbillies kept opponents scoreless during their run through the Section VI Class B1 postseason.
OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms
Maple Grove advanced to the Class C semifinals last season against Wilson, but does not have enough varsity girls to field its own team this year. The Red Dragons will send five to join the Falconer/Cassadaga Valley squad, including OBSERVER/Post-Journal All-Star sophomore Kylie Kress, who scored 20 goals and five assists, and junior Madilyn Seastrum, who posted 14 goals and eight assists.
Chautauqua Lake, led by OBSERVER/Post-Journal Player of the Year Jada Cole, fell to Frewsburg in the Class C semifinals, but did manage to end the Bears’ unbeaten streak in league action.
Cole returns for her senior campaign after scoring 18 goals and 11 assists last year. Junior OBSERVER/Post-Journal All-Star goalkeeper Lucy Gates looks to build off last season during which she had five clean sheets and was the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 2 Defensive Player of the Year, and Paige Zarpentine enters her final year following up nine-goal, four-assist campaign.
Randolph returns with a lot of firepower, eyeing a better finish than the quarterfinals despite an 11-4-1 record. The Cardinals bring back their top four scorers, including a pair of OBSERVER/Post-Journal All-Stars in top-scoring junior Gianna Bowles with 18 goals and six assists and senior Quinn Pence, who scored eight goals and six assists. Sadie Steward enters her senior year after scoring 10 goals and five assists last year as does Sara Smith, who provided three goals and eight assists a year ago.
Jamestown played in the first Class AAA semifinal last year, but suffers from the graduation of leading scorer Ella Propheter who had seven goals and six assists. Madison Burgess returns for her senior year after scoring four goals and two assists a year ago.
Silver Creek/Forestville also graduated its top scorer and OBSERVER/Post-Journal All-Star Rachel Beadle, who provided 18 goals and five assists last year.
However, the Black Knights have some promising production on the way including the senior year of Marissa Grisanti after she potted 18 goals and three assists a year ago. Sophomore Molly Shaw will look to build off her two goals and seven assists, and Abby Cook could be in for a big freshman year after scoring nine goals and seven assists last year.
Westfield/Brocton graduated top scorer Carley Wilson, who had five goals and two assists in six games, but brings back sophomore Makayley Nelson, who scored three goals and an assist.
Pine Valley/Gowanda brings back Sarah Kruszka for her senior year after scoring nine goals and three assists last year, and sophomore Samantha Collins will hope to build off of the three goals and three assists a year ago.
Cattaraugus-Little Valley graduates top-scorer Evelyn Janora, who posted five goals and two assists last year, but brings back sophomores Rebekah Butcher and Candice Brown, who both scored three goals and an assist.
After shutting down midway through the season last year, Dunkirk is back this fall with 19 girls signed up, according to Andrew Burnside, athletic director.