Bolstered by a strong nucleus of 11 returnees, including five All-League honorees, the Albion High School girls varsity soccer squad is aiming to make a strong run at capturing a record seventh straight Niagara-Orleans championship this season.
Albion and Wilson currently share the record of capturing the title six years in a row. Wilson won the first six N-O titles from 1996 to 2001.
Senior forward Emilie Edwards, a first team N-O All-League selection last fall, heads that veteran group along with forward Taylor Armstrong and defender Rebecca Atwell, both juniors who earned second team honors, and senior defenders Zoe Moyer and Jenna Mrzywka, who were both honorable mention picks.
The Purple Eagles veteran contingent also includes seniors Baylee Hapeman (midfield) and Betsy McKenna (defender) along with juniors Maggie King (midfield), Rebecca Powley (forward), Yazmin Serafin (midfield) and Tyiler Tower (defender).
Edwards had 13 goals and 13 assists, Armstrong nine goals and Powley six goals last year.
“We’ve got a lot of returners” coach Bruce Blanchard said. “Our whole defense is back so I feel pretty confident there. We did lose a couple of key midfielders which will be big shoes to fill. If they step up, which I’m confident they will, we will be OK there so a lot will depend on how our midfield plays.”
Rounding out the Purple Eagles squad are juniors Shelby Sargent (goalie), Danielle Duenas (forward), Emily Bannister (midfield), Tiffany Curtis (midfield) and Sarah Connor (forward) along with sophomore Abby Edwards (midfield) and freshman Joyce LaLonde (midfield).
“I feel confident about this team,” Blanchard said. “We’ve got good senior leadership and I feel we’re just as talented as we’ve been.”
Albion visits Aquinas Sept. 9 in a non-league contest before opening its N-O title defense at rival Medina on Sept. 11.
The Purple Eagles claimed the N-O crown last fall with an 11-1 record and finished with an overall mark of 14-6.
High School Sports
September 3, 2009
SOCCER: Albion seeks 7th straight title
- High School Sports
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- FOOTBALL: Hawks look to rebound in year two. Last fall’s return to varsity football competition after a year’s absence proved to be a long one for Holley as the Hawks struggled through an 0-8 learning campaign.
- VOLLEYBALL: Purple Eagles host Medina tonight. Long runs of service points to open games one and three and to finish game two keyed Albion to a 25-15, 25-10, 25-23 season opening non- league victory over Oakfield-Alabama on Wednesday.
- FOOTBALL: Albion squads gain split. The Medina LOYAL Colts, Broncos and Stallions all scored victories over host Bar/Lyn squads Saturday to open the Niagara Orleans Football Association season.
- FOOTBALL: Roy-Hart faces Gowanda Friday Chris Smith takes over the football coaching helm at Roy-Hart which is getting set to open the Class C Division season at 7 p.m., Friday against Gowanda in game to be played at Silver Creek.
- FIELD HOCKEY: Lady Rams have new coach. Roy-Hart alum Colleen Albee takes over the coaching reins at Roy-Hart which begins a very challenging Niagara-Orleans League schedule by visiting defending champion Barker on Tuesday and then hosting last fall’s runner-up Akron on Sept. 10.
- FOOTBALL: Action is tune-up for Friday’s opener. Tune-up action for this Friday’s season opener shifted into high gear Saturday morning as Medina hosted Wilson, Lew-Port and Alden in a rainy four-way scrimmage at Vets Park.
- SOCCER: Albion seeks 7th straight title Bolstered by a strong nucleus of 11 returnees, including five All-League honorees, the Albion High School girls varsity soccer squad is aiming to make a strong run at capturing a record seventh straight Niagara-Orleans championship this season.
- FOOTBALL: Tigers ground attack derails Diesel OLEAN — Unleashing a punishing ground attack, the Lyndonville Tigers rolled to a 31-0 victory over the Southern Tier Diesel on Friday night to clinch the Northeast Football Alliance regular season championship at 9-1.
- SOFTBALL: Second game will decide Div. 3 title Orleans Vets came up with the defense in the eighth inning and the offense in the ninth to defeat Mark’s Pizzeria 8-5 this past week in the opening game of the Medina Men’s Softball League Division 2 playoff title series.
- BASEBALL: Jr. Wilson/VFW tops Cambria 5-1. Improving to 8-3, the front-running Jr. Wilson/VFW Eagles defeated Cambria 5-1 Thursday in a Lockport ‘A’ League game.
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