Sports
HS ROUNDUP (Oct. 28): East upsets Pioneer in field hockey
They registered only two shots on goal, but the Kenmore East field hockey team made one of them count in Tuesday’s Class B quarterfinal.
Alex Valentino scored the lone goal as the fifth-seeded Bulldogs upset No. 4 Pioneer 1-0 on the Panthers home turf. The win advances East (8-7 overall) to Tuesday’s semifinal against top-seed Williamsville South at Amherst High School.
Sam Attea played a phenomenal game, making all 28 saves for East.
The win was especially big considering East doesn’t play on a turf field. “What an upset that was!” an elated Bulldogs coach Jeff Orlowski said. “It’s only a five seed over a four seed, but Pioneer plays on turf and we don’t, and it’s a whole different game.”
East had more chances than its two shots suggest, but the Bulldogs just couldn’t fire them off, Orlowski said.
As for the turf advantage, it’s huge. “It completely changes the game, because on grass, you’ve actually got to hit the ball to make it go,” Orlowski explained. “On turf, you just tap it. It’s all the difference in the world. You really see the skills come out on the turf field.”
Girls Soccer
8-N-W 2, 9-Lancaster 1
Melissa Smith scored and Emily Belote netted the game-winner to lead Wheatfield in the Class AA prequarterfinal. For Belote, an eighth grader, it was her first varsity goal. Christina Ventresca recorded eight saves in net for the Falcons (9-7-1 overall), who play top-seeded Williamsville North on Friday. Maria Kotas scored for Lancaster (5-10-2).
4-Orchard Park 8, 13-Niagara Falls 0
Olivia Fleming and Shana Ventresca had good games for the Falls (2-15 overall, 0-15 NFL) in the Class AA prequarterfinal. OP will host North Tonawanda in the quarterfinals on Friday.
6-Starpoint 1, 11-Ken East 0
Kristen Giberson scored on a corner kick for Starpoint on an assist from Kristi Delabio in the Class A prequarterfinal. Catie Hale was strong defensively for the Lady Spartans (12-5-1 overall), who visit No. 3 Williamsville South on Friday.
7-Frontier 4, 10-Lockport 2
Codi Hall scored both goals for Lockport (4-12-1 overall) in the Class AA prequarterfinal loss. Hamburg advances to play second-seeded Clarence on Friday.
8-Lew-Port 1, 9-Pioneer 0
Amy Roemer scored 15 minutes into the second half of the Class A prequarterfinal on an assist from Hayley Besaw and Jenna Van Dusen. Erin Kinz made 10 saves in goal for the Lancers (9-8 overall) and picked up her sixth shutout of the year. Lew-Port travels to top-seeded Grand Island on Friday.
Boys Soccer
4-City Honors 2, 13-Tonawanda 0
Nick Alcarran netted a goal for City Honors in the Class B prequarterfinal. Chris Vanderbrook and Kyle McGregor played well for THS (6-12 overall), according to coach James Gabor.
Boys Volleyball
N-W 3, Ken East 1
Shawn Haseley had 12 kills and Cliff Jacobs added nine as Wheatfield won its Niagara Frontier League finale, 25-19, 24-26, 25-20, 25-9. The Falcons improve to 11-3 in the NFL, while East drops to 4-10.
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