For four Ellicottville girls soccer senior captains, this is a big year.
Mandy Hurlburt, Elsa Woodarek, Jocelyn Wyatt and Emilee Ruiz all have a long history together, and this is their last chance to make a run at a league title and a deep postseason run.
Last year, Ellicottville went 13-0 in the regular season, including a CCAA East title, but lost its playoff opener to Westfield, 3-1. To repeat in the East division, Ellicottville (6-4, 5-1) would likely have to avenge a loss to Portville.
Of Ellicottville’s four losses, two occurred at the New York State Girls Soccer Hall of Fame Tournament and another was against Class B Olean in the Huskies’ season-opening tournament.
But overall, considering the Eagles replaced five starters (including at center midfield, goalkeeper and multiple defensive spots) after returning six starters and 11 varsity players overall, third-year coach Tammy Eddy is pleased with her team’s progress in the opening weeks of the season.
“I think our season is going well,” Eddy said. “I feel like in the beginning, we lost a few key players to graduation so it took us a little time to adjust and get the right mix of girls in the right positions but I think we’re there and we’re starting the second half of our league season (Monday) playing Catt-Little Valley for the second time and we’re just looking forward to continuing to play well together as a team and then hopefully avenging our loss next week to Portville. They’re a great team so it was definitely a good game.”
Several players stepped right into the varsity lineup to replace those graduated starters.
“We had some younger girls that had the opportunity to play JV last year and came ready to play to fill in some of those spots,” Eddy said. “So it was just a matter of team chemistry learning to play with the new players, the younger girls that had come up. But it’s going well now, so it just takes some time.”
Hurlburt is a returning Big 30 All-Star and has been a top scorer for the team since she first arrived at the varsity level. She leads this year’s squad with 13 goals in eight games played. Ruiz, Alysa Williams and Brooke Butler all have five goals.
“(Mandy) and the other three captains have played together since they were on my mod team back in seventh and eighth grade and they’ve got a good chemistry going on,” Eddy said. “I’m fortunate, and I have some other seniors that aren’t captains that are stepping up that leadership role, speaking up and looking out for what’s best for our whole team.”
Over the remaining league schedule, Eddy wants to see her team play with consistency regardless of the opponent.
“Just team chemistry and playing our game,” she said. “Sometimes you play a team that may be not as skilled and you kind of get into some bad habits of not playing the game that we know how to play, the good passing game and communication game. So we’re just going to focus on doing what we can do and hope for the best.”
— Cattaraugus-Little Valley (3-6-1, 3-4) has seen improved results of late, winning three out of four games until a loss to Ellicottville on Monday. The T-Wolves have had balanced scoring, with five players sitting on two goals so far this season. Goalie Onalee Osgood has three shutouts.
— Randolph (5-5-1, 5-2) has won its last three games, all in shutout fashion over Franklinville, CLV and Salamanca. Its only two CCAA East losses have been to league-best Portville and Ellicottville. Junior Kyra Pence leads the Cardinals in both goals (11) and assists (5). Mattie Evans-Brown (5 assists) and Aubrey Hogan (4 assists) have six goals each.
— Salamanca (1-9, 0-7) is in the midst of an eight-game losing streak since winning its second game of the season. The Warriors have had several heartbreakers, including three straight one-goal losses (four total this season) to Franklinville, CLV and Gowanda/Pine Valley.
With four seniors, 11 juniors, seven sophomores and a freshman, Salamanca has a young team looking to build on that early-season experience as it heads down the stretch.
CATTARAUGUS-LITTLE VALLEY
Coach: J.J. Niemi (5th year, 13-46-4)
League: CCAA East
2020 record/postseason: 0-11-1
Roster: Madison Washy-Singer (soph., MF), Logan Crowell (jr., MF/D), Madison Spink (jr., MF/F), Olivia Seiflein (jr., D/MF), Evelyn Janora (soph., MF/F), Marley Dundas (jr., D), Morgan Rosario (soph., MF/F), Alex Minnekine (sr., MF/F), Amara Williams (sr., MF/F), Caitlin O’Neill (jr., D), Kora Sentz (jr., MF/F), Madalyn West (soph., D/F), Cali Schneider (jr., F), Clara Thompson (sr., MF/F), Onalee Osgood (jr., GK), Amelie Metzger (sr., F/GK), Grace Zalwsky (sr., GK)
ELLICOTTVILLE
Coach: Tammy Eddy (3rd year, 24-5-3)
League: CCAA East
2020 record/postseason: 14-1; Westfield/Brocton (L, 3-1, Sec. 6 Class C Quarterfinal)
Roster: Ryah Quinn (jr., MF), Kyleigh Dimpfl (sr., F), Sam Stock (jr., F), Audrey Hurlburt (soph., F), Mandy Hurlburt (sr., F), Elsa Woodarek (sr., D), Layla Kerns (soph., MF), Cameron Kaleta (soph., D), Jocelyn Wyatt (sr., F), Keelin Finn (soph., D),Aaliyah Winslow (jr., F), Carly Neumann (sr., F), Marissa Clark (sr., F), Emilee Ruiz (sr., MF), Alysa Williams (jr, MF), Harley Ficek (sr., MF), Brooke Butler (soph., D), Abby Chudy (soph., GK), Katie Krotz (jr., GK)
RANDOLPH
Coach: Alexa Troutman (3rd year, 13-17-1)
League: CCAA East
2020 record/postseason: 7-6; Frewsburg (L, 5-1 Section 6 Class C Quarterfinal)
Roster: Aubrey Hogan (jr., MF/F); Ashley Crouse (sr., D/MF); Tayla Keyes (sr., D/GK); Caliana Wheeler (sr., MF); Mattie Evans-Brown (soph., MF/F); Alexis Sevenish (soph., MF); Zoey Dickerson (soph., D/MF); Alice Robinson (sr., D); Willow Rader (sr., D/MF); Kyra Pence (jr., MF); Piper Keyes (sr., F); Samantha English (sr., MF); Katelyn Storer (jr., MF); Caitlin Park (sr., GK); Renee Waterman (jr., MF); Alaina Bunker (jr., D); Jordan Henry (sr., D); Kendell O’Neill (jr., MF/GK); Torrey Smith (jr., F)
SALAMANCA
Coach: Michelle Hill (8th year, 50-77-2)
League: CCAA East
2020 record/postseason: 7-6; Portville (L, 4-2, Sec. 6 Class C Quarterfinal)
Roster: Makenzie Oakes (jr., GK), Emily Brown (soph., F), Gahseni’de’ Hubbell (jr., MF), Sunny O’Connor (soph., D/MF), Haidyn Eddy (sr., F), Sydnie John (jr., MF/F), Summer Downey (fr., MF/F), Shea Monahan (soph., D), Tia Luke (soph., MF), Alina Cook (jr., D/MF), Rebecca Oyer (jr., F), Mariah Downey (jr., MF/F), Leyna Harper (soph., F), Alyssa Perkins (jr., MF), Faith Long (jr., MF), Laila Zolner (sr., D), Caitlin Glowacki (jr., F), Kyleigh Slater (soph., D), Alex Ricketts (sr., D), Kelsey Rohwer (soph., D), Grace Hodara (jr., F), Emma Brown (sr., MF), Harley Brown (jr., D)
