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Byron-Bergen's Hagen signs for Roberts Wesleyan University

By Press Release
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Photo of Mackenzie Hagen with her family and Coach Hill courtesy of Mary Hughes.

Press Release:

Byron-Bergen Central School District proudly announces that on Friday, Nov. 3, senior Mackenzie Hagen signed a letter of intent to attend Roberts Wesleyan University as a member of their women’s soccer team. At Roberts Wesleyan, she plans to enter the Pre-Veterinary Medicine program, majoring in Biology. 

Her commitment to Roberts Wesleyan was witnessed by her parents, her sister Crystal, and Byron-Bergen Varsity Girls Soccer Coach Wayne Hill. 

“Mackenzie is ready for the next level of soccer competition,” said Byron-Bergen Athletic Director Rich Hannan. “Her outstanding work ethic and speed make her an incredible athlete, but she is also a gifted leader on and off the field. I wish her the very best at Roberts Wesleyan.” 

Hagen is a 6-year Varsity Soccer player and a member of three consecutive Section V championship teams. She participates in Varsity Track and Field where she is a member of the record-holding 800m Sprint Medley Relay team. She is also a Scholar Athlete and Genesee Region All-Star. In addition to sports, Hagen is a member of the National Honor Society. She would like to thank her parents, sister, and coaches.

Mount Academy gets upper hand on Byron-Bergen/Elba in Class C state championship game

By Howard B. Owens
jack farner byron bergen
Jack Farner with the kick that scored Byron-Bergen/Elba's only goal midway through the second half of Sunday's Class C state championship.
Photo by Howard Owens.

With 26 minutes left in the first half, Mount Academy's Chris Recinos penetrated Byron-Bergen's defense and, from close range, knocked a ball over the goal line to put the Eagles out in front of Byron-Bergen/Elba in the state championship of Class C Boys Soccer in Middletown.

Eight minutes later, Alexis Mendoza blasted a penalty kick past a diving Bees keeper Martin Mac Connell to put the Eagles up 2-0.

Mendoza scored two more goals, including one on a second-half corner kick, for the hat trick. The Bees' only score was a second-half goal by forward Jack Farner.

The eventual 4-1 win was the second state title in soccer for the eight-year-old private Bruderhof Christian community high school. The Eagles won two years ago as a Class D team and were moved up into Class C, despite a student body of only 200, because of the school's perceived dominance in soccer.

While the game looked evenly matched for the first 18 minutes, the Eagles seemingly became more and more dominant, containing the Bees to their end of the field most of the rest of the way.  The Bees were not without scoring opportunities, even in the second half, but either shots were missed or were blocked.

This year, the Mount Academy girls' team won a co-champion title with a tie score in their game.

Byron-Bergen/Elba was coming off a physically and emotionally draining win against #1 seed Seton Catholic on Saturday in Goshen. That game went to double overtime, tied at 1-1, for 110 minutes of fast-paced football, followed by a best-of-five penalty kick shout that the Bees won 3-2.

The Eagles had their own emotional motivation carrying them into the final after starting midfielder Lenis Arnold suffered a compound fracture in his left in Mount Acadamy's 4-2 win in the semifinal earlier on Saturday against Waterford-Halfmoon. Arnold was on the sideline with his leg in a cast for Sunday's game.

For more photos by Howard Owens and to purchase prints, click here.

For more photos by Jennifer DiQuattro click here.

The Batavian was the only news outlet from Section V with staff at the Class C tournament games for Boys Soccer.  You can help support out local coverage by signing up for Early Access Pass.

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Chris Recinos celebrates his goal , the first score for the Eagles in the game.
Photo by Howard Owens.
https://www.howardowensphotography.com/p623771912
The Bees Colin Martin takes a shot early in the first half that just missed the goal, sailing wide right by inches.
Photo by Howard Owens.
https://www.howardowensphotography.com/p623771912
Brayden Chambry has his goal attempt blocked. Chambry retrieved the rebound and shot again but the shot slid harmlessly left of the goalpost. 
Photo by Howard Owens.
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Bees keeper Martin Mac Connell got a hand on a corner kick by Alexis Mendoza but couldn't block in late in the second half to give Mendoza a hattrick and put the Eagles up 4-1.
Photo by Howard Owens.
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Photo by Howard Owens.
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Jack Farner
Photo by Howard Owens.
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Jack Farner and Mount Academy's Jameson Swinger battle for a header.
Photo by Howard Owens.
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Braedyn Chambry with a header in the second half.
Photo by Howard Owens.
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Colin Martin.
Photo by Howard Owens.
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Photo by Howard Owens.
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Photo by Howard Owens.
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Martin Mac Connell, after a penalty kick by Alex Mendoza gives Mount Academy a 2-0 lead in the first half.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Bees fall to Mount Academy in Boys Soccer state championship game 4-1

By Howard B. Owens
byron bergen elba soccer state championship

Alexis Mendoza scored a hat trick for Mount Academy to help lead his team to a 4-1 victory over Byron-Bergen/Elba in the Class C Boys Soccer Championship at Middletown High School on Sunday.

Jack Farner scored the Bees' only goal midway through the second half.

I'll drive back to Batavia before I start editing photos from the game.  It's likely we won't have photos posted until tomorrow.

Bees win state semifinal in Boys Soccer after double OT on penalty kicks

By Howard B. Owens
Byron-Bergen vs. Seton Catholic Class State Semifinal Soccer 2023
Carter Prinzi with the game-winning save on Saturday that came in a penalty kick shootout following a double overtime 1-1 tie.
Photo by Jennifer DiQuattro

After 110 minutes of football that saw only two goals, one for each side, the state's Class C semifinal came down to a best-of-five-goal shootout.

One kicker (each team rotating through five hand-picked players) against one goalie for each team.  Byron-Bergen/Elba, the #4 seed in the tournament, against Seton Catholic, the #1 seed.

The Bees coach, Ken Rogoyski, after the game, said he always regrets that a soccer game comes down to a shootout.

"No game should be decided by PKs (penalty kicks)," Rogoyski said. "Unfortunately, we need some way to see who advances."

A penalty kick is essentially a coin flip, a 50-50 chance to make a goal. There's pressure on both sides of the ball.  It's as much a mind game as it is about athleticism. The kicker and the goalie must outguess each other. If the goalie guesses wrong and jumps the wrong way, he has no shot at blocking the shot. If the kicker guesses wrong, he has little hope of putting the ball in the back of the net.

On the first two penalty kick rounds, each goalie guessed right. On the next two, the guessing game favored the kickers.

So, coming into the fifth round, both sides were even at two goals each. 

Braedyn Chambry made his kick to give the Bees a 3-2 edge.

That put the pressure on Carter Prinzi, normally a midfielder but called upon by Rogoyski to provide the keeper position with some fresh legs. Prinzi was well aware he had to outwit the opposing kicker.

He said he tried to use some body language to play mind games with the opposing kicker to hopefully get him to kick the ball where Prinzi wanted it to go.  He was committed to a side, and he wanted to convince the kicker to pick that side. 

We may never know if the trick worked, but the result was the same.  The kicker kicked to his left, and Prinzi dove to his right and got his hands on the ball, batting it away.

"(Blocking the kick) means a lot," Prinzi said. "I mean, it pushed our team to the finals. It's probably one of the best moments in sports I've ever had."

Prinzi won the game within the game, and as a result, Byron-Bergen/Elba will play Mount Academy, the Section IX champs, today (Saturday) at 11:30 at Middletown High School for the state's Class C championship in Boys Soccer.

The championship game comes after the day after a long, hard-fought, high-energy game against Seton. 

Rogoyski said his side would be ready.

"It's all about recovery," Rogoyski said. "Whoever recovers the best between now and tomorrow's game wins."

For much of the game, the Bees were defending a 1-0 lead on a goal by Jack Farner, with an assist from Colin Martin.  

"Yeah, me and Colin, we've been doing it all season, just playing with each other, and I know where he's gonna place the ball, and I just run the way I think it's gonna go, and it just works out," Farner said. 

Seton evened the score with less than 12 minutes left in regular time following a yellow card on a Bees defender within striking distance to the goal. The resulting kick sailed over the head of keeper Martin Mac Connell. 

That led to a pair of 15-minute OT periods, both ending nil-nil and setting up the penalty kick shootout.

Rogoyski credited Seton for playing a great game. 

The Bees seemed to dominate control up until Farner's goal, then Seton adjusted its tactics and began to make more incursions into Byron-Bergen's defense. The sides were evenly matched the rest of the way -- both getting their chances and both facing stout defenses when the scoring opportunities came.

"They played a good game, a great game," Rogoyski said. "They were tough. They were strong."

After such a long, tough game, Farner said he and his teammates will be ready for Sunday's 11:30 a.m. game.

"I'm feeling good," Farner said. "I'm just speechless. That (the shootout) was insane, but I feel confident that we're gonna get this win, and we're gonna come home state champs."

The Batavian was the only media outlet within Section V that had a reporter or photographer at the Class C state championship tournament in Boys Soccer. You can help support our coverage by joining Early Access Pass.

Byron-Bergen vs. Seton Catholic Class State Semifinal Soccer 2023
Braedyn Chambry with what proved to be the game-winning kick to settle a 1-1, double-overtime tie in the Class C state championship in Boys Soccer.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron-Bergen vs. Seton Catholic Class State Semifinal Soccer 2023
The National Anthem on Veterans Day before Saturday's game.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron-Bergen vs. Seton Catholic Class State Semifinal Soccer 2023
Colin Martin with a shot on goal early in the first half that was blocked.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron-Bergen vs. Seton Catholic Class State Semifinal Soccer 2023
Jack Farner
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron-Bergen vs. Seton Catholic Class State Semifinal Soccer 2023
Colin Martin (Coach Ken Rogoyski on the left).
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron-Bergen vs. Seton Catholic Class State Semifinal Soccer 2023
Joel Lamb with a header save on a corner kick in the first half.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron-Bergen vs. Seton Catholic Class State Semifinal Soccer 2023
Colin Rae
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron-Bergen vs. Seton Catholic Class State Semifinal Soccer 2023
Braedyn Chambry with a shot on goal that was blocked in the second half.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron-Bergen vs. Seton Catholic Class State Semifinal Soccer 2023
Martin Mac Connell with a save.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron-Bergen vs. Seton Catholic Class State Semifinal Soccer 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron-Bergen vs. Seton Catholic Class State Semifinal Soccer 2023
Photo by Jennifer DiQuattro
Byron-Bergen vs. Seton Catholic Class State Semifinal Soccer 2023
Photo by Jennifer DiQuattro
Byron-Bergen vs. Seton Catholic Class State Semifinal Soccer 2023
Photo by Howard Owens.

BREAKING: Byron-Bergen wins state semifinal in Boys Soccer

By Howard B. Owens
carter prinzi byron bergen soccer
The Bees Carter Prinzi with the winning save in a penalty box shootout following a double overtime match between Byron-Bergen/Elba vs. Seton Catholic at Goshen High School in Goshen.
Photo by Howard Owens

The Byron-Bergen/Elba Bees will play for a state championship in Boys Soccer on Sunday in Middletown after winning a double overtime match that was decided by a shootout against Seton Catholic.

Jack Farner, with an assist from Colin Martin, scored the only goal for the Bees in the first half and the Bees held Seton scoreless until just 11 minutes left in the match.

Regular time was followed by two 15-minute overtime periods that could have been decided by a "golden goal" (the first team to score wins).

The OT periods were followed by a five-shot shootout with Carter Prinzi stepping into the goal. Each of the first two shots by both teams was blocked by each goalie, then each team made their next two goals. Jesus Aragon made the fifth attempt for the Bees, giving Prinzi the opportunity to make the game-winning save.

Sunday's game begins at 11:30 a.m. at Middletown High School against Mount Academy from Section IX.

More photos and coverage coming this evening.

The Batavian is providing exclusive coverage of the Class C Boys Soccer State Championship matches. You can help support our coverage by joining Early Access Pass.

Byron-Bergen heading to soccer Final Four with 2-1 over Wilson

By Howard B. Owens
byron bergen soccer
Jack Farner with the header to score Byron-Bergen's first goal.
Photo by Jennifer DiQuattro

The Byron-Bergen Bees are Far West Regional champions after beating Section VI's Wilson 2-1 in Boys Soccer on Friday in West Seneca.

The Bees advance to the Final Four of the state championship tournament in Class C. Their first game is at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Goshen High School (about 4 1/2 hours from Batavia). They will play either Fabius or Seton Catholic in the semifinal.  Seton Catholic is the #1 ranked Class C team in the state.

On Friday, Jack Farner scored the first goal with an assist from Colin Martin.

Colin Rea, who missed nearly all of the regular season with an injury, scored the second goal with 16 minutes left in the game.  It was his first goal of the season.

The Bees enter the state tournament with an 18-2-1 record.

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro

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Byron-Bergen's Farner scores four goals as Bees blanks Cuba-Rushford in soccer crossover

By Howard B. Owens
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover

Byron-Bergen beat Cuba-Rushford/Hinsdale 4-0 on Wednesday night at Geneseo in the Class C crossover game.

The Bees now advance to the Far West Regional to take on Wilson, the Section VI Class C champ, in the Far West Championship at 5 p.m. on Friday at West Seneca Senior High School.

All four goals for the Bees were scored by Jack Farner (#8).  Assists went to Colin Martin, Noah Clare, Braedyn Chambry and Cody Carlson. 

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.

byron bergen boys score Class C crossover
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover

Byron-Bergen loses Class C crossover to Holley

By Howard B. Owens
Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
Byron-Bergen's Victoria Rogoyski fouled early in the first half.
Photo by Howard Owens

With each of the first two goals the Holley Hawks scored, the Byron-Bergen Bees had an answer to tie the game, but in overtime, the Hawk's third overtime goal ended the game and ended the Bees' hope of advancing further this postseason.

Byron-Byron Bergen lost the Class C crossover game at Geneseo High School and the right to play in the Western Regional Championship to Holly 3-2.

For more photos and to purchase prints, click here.

Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
Keeper Novalee Pocock with a saver in the first half.
Photo by Howard Owens
Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
MacKenzie Hagen
Photo by Howard Owens
Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
The Holly Hawks score their first goal in the first half.
Photo by Howard Owens
Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
Mia Gray after a successful steal in the first half.
Photo by Howard Owens
Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
Ava Goff
Photo by Howard Owens
Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
Megan Zwerka-Synder
Photo by Howard Owens
Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
A Byron-Bergen scoring attempt blocked in the second half.
Photo by Howard Owens
Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
Riley Shallenberger
Photo by Howard Owens

Batavia High's Walsh and Hume honored by Section V

By Howard B. Owens
isabella walsh batavia soccer
Isabella Walsh
Photo by Howard Owens

Isabella Walsh: Section V Class A Player of the Year
Isabella Walsh, #11 on the Batavia Blue Devils Girls Soccer team, loves playing defense. She always has.

"I've played defense since I was little," Walsh said. "I like the one-on-one battles and making big saves. I enjoy it."

She's also the team's primary direct-kick specialist (taking kicks following a penalty from outside the penalty box).

These two contributions to Batavia's 14-win season are a big part of why she was named Section V Class A Player of the Year for Girls Soccer.

"I'm really honored to be singled out for this award," Walsh said. "There are so many great players on my team and the teams we compete against. To be a defensive player and to win this type of award is really a great recognition, but this is truly a team award because it's my teammates around me every day in practice and games that make me better and make me want to play harder for them and our team's success."

Batavia's head coach, Roger Hume, said Walsh, now a senior, is a four-year starter at center back, and he doesn't believe she's missed a start in her career.

"She's like the center of our entire defense at this point," Hume said. "She is gonna be a big loss for us."

On the field, Walsh directs the defense when the opposing team has a direct kick or corner kick, and that had a lot to do with Batavia's success in 2023.

"We were at the lowest goal-against total we've had in the last 15 years that I've been here," Hume said. "We had 12 goals against."

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Roger Hume
Photo by Howard Owens

Roger Hume: Section V Class A Girls Soccer Coach of the Year
Fifteen years ago, Roger Hume took over a soccer team that needed new direction.  That first year as coach was rough -- no league wins and only a 4-12-1 record on the year.  The team scored only 12 goals and gave up 50.

In 2023, he coached the team to a 14-2-1 record, with a team that gave up only 12 goals and scored 73 (The team's previous record for fewest goals against was 17 in 2020 (when the team scored only 15 goals, and the highest goal total was 45 in 2022).

After such a successful season, Hume has been named the Section V Class A Girls Soccer Coach of the Year.

The award isn't just a credit to him, Hume said. It's the entire group of people involved in Batavia Girls Soccer.

"Well, for me, I think it's a combination of all the parents and players that have put the time in, and all of the volunteer coaches and assistant coaches I've had through the years," Hume said. "There's a multitude of parents that had their daughters come up through who helped me from modified all the way up to Varsity. It kind of justifies that we did all that hard work, you know, and it took a while. I mean, 15 years before we had the team -- this has been one of the best teams that we've had, you know, record-wise and group-wise and just the way they are a team together."

Hume now has 111 career wins as a varsity coach.

His soccer career started with his oldest daughter getting involved with soccer when she was four. She's now 32. He became a coach in Batavia Youth Soccer, became a board member, and after a few years, then Athletic Director Mike Bromley asked him if he would coach girls modified soccer for Batavia.  After a few years, he moved up to junior varsity and then, 15 years ago, varsity. 

The team's biggest improvements have come since the opening of the new Van Detta Stadium with the artificial turf on Woodward Field.

Playing on grass meant playing a slower game, but it also meant, despite all the hard work of the grounds crew, playing on a field that could be a bit uneven.

"When it gets into October, it's tough because it's raining out all the time or it's snowing out all the time," Hume said. "Being able to get on the turf as much as possible has helped to speed up our game a lot. We've really been able to ratchet up."

The proof is the past three years of play against a top Class A team, Pal-Mac.  Two years ago, Batavia lost 6-1.  Last year, 4-0.  This year, in the Class A semifinal, 2-0.  That's a measure of progress, even if the Blue Devils haven't yet cleared the hump of beating Pal-Mac.

And the progress doesn't seem to have peaked, Hume indicated.

"We have a great JV group that came up, and I had girls that were freshmen and sophomores that could have been on varsity and would have been on varsity previous years, like five, six years ago, but we didn't have the room for them," Hume said.  "They would be playing and I don't want them to sit on the bench if there's no value to it at that point."

Hume acknowledged that as much as it might recognize the success of the program in 2023, it also recognizes the progress of the program.

"I think it is a recognition of what we can do and that we are competitive," Hume said. "We can compete now several teams in our group. Aquinas is in our group, and Pal-Mac is our Class A. Like I said, we did Class A for nine years, and we won four games all the time, or five games all the time, so, you know, I think we're proving we can compete."

Program at YMCA helps Batavia soccer players hone their skills during the winter

By Howard B. Owens
batavia indoor soccer

The indoor winter soccer program started on Monday at the YMCA in Batavia, coached by Batavia girls Varsity coach Roger Hume.

He calls the program "club soccer."

It is open to soccer players from third grade through 12th, and it's never too late for a parent to get a child started in the program.  Hume said as long as a class has room, the class is open at any time of the winter, November through March, and there is an open registration time again in January.

JV and Varsity players practice and train on Mondays, junior high on Wednesdays, and elementary school kids on Thursdays.  On Saturdays, all grade levels participate at different times of the day.

Since many of the JV and Varsity players often play other winter sports, the Monday classes tend to thin out once those seasons start, Hume said.

The session starts with some warm-ups followed by skill work, ball handling.

"We want to do a lot of group stuff, too," Hume said. "Then they'll do some scrimmaging at the end. We try to work on teamwork, try to work on passing, receiving. Indoors is good for more skill work and then some passing, the physicality of the game. But you know, you can't mimic what you're doing outside. I mean, I wish we had turf. Yeah, I always say I wish we had turf, but we don't have turf. So we take advantage of what we have."

In February and March, club players typically participate in tournaments. Batavia, Attica, Keshequa, and Byron-Bergen are among the locations of indoor tournaments.

Photos by Howard Owens

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batavia indoor soccer
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batavia indoor soccer

Byron-Bergen wins second soccer title of the weekend, as boys beat ER 1-0

By Howard B. Owens
byron-bergen vs. east rochester soccer

Byron-Bergen soccer fans are now celebrating two sectional championships in the same weekend after the boys team defeated #1 seed East Rochester 1-0 for the Class C2 crown.

The lone goal was fired in by forward Jack Farner, with an assist from Colin Martin, in the third minute of the game. Martin MacConnell, along with the Bees defense, held the Bombers scoreless the rest of the match.

On Friday, the girls' team beat Keshequa 4-3 in overtime to the Class C2 title.

Coach Ken Rogoyski said, "The last time that the boys and girls teams were sectional champions in the same year was 2002 (21 years ago).  They also both won in 2001. And before that, in 1981 (21 years prior to the 2002 win).  Coincidentally, the girls tied their match on Friday, sending them into overtime with 21 seconds left in the game."

The Bees, now 16-2-1, will face Cuba-Rushford/Hinsdale on Wednesday night, location TBD.

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro

byron-bergen vs. east rochester soccer
byron-bergen vs. east rochester soccer
byron-bergen vs. east rochester soccer
byron-bergen vs. east rochester soccer
byron-bergen vs. east rochester soccer
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byron-bergen vs. east rochester soccer
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O-A falls short in quest for sectional title in Girls Soccer

By Howard B. Owens
oakfield-alabama girls soccer

Oakfield-Alabama lost Tuesday to Williamson 4-1 in the Class C1 semifinal in Girls Soccer.

The Hornets entered the game as the #3 seed against #2 Williamson.

There is one local team left in the Girls Soccer Sectionals, Byron-Bergen, who will play for the C2 championship on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Gates-Chili against Keshequa.

Photos by Debra Reilly.

oakfield-alabama girls soccer
oakfield-alabama girls soccer
oakfield-alabama girls soccer

Farner, Martin lead Byron-Bergen to 6-1 win in Boys Soccer semifinal

By Howard B. Owens
jack farner byron bergen
Byron-Bergen's Jack Farner dribbling the ball in the first half of the Class C2 semifinal at Geneseo High School on Wednesday.
Photo by Howard Owens.

There's no doubt that it was a team effort, but Jack Farner was a standout in Byron-Bergen's sectional semifinal win over Addison in Geneseo on Wednesday, scoring four goals.

The Bees won 6-1.

In a regular season match in September, Addison beat Byron-Bergen 3-2 so the Bees went into the game knowing they had to beat a tough opponent if they wanted to advance in the Class C1 tournament. 

"Addison is a very good team," said the Bees' head coach, Kenneth Rogoyski. "The score is not a reflection of the game. Possession was maybe a tiny bit in our favor, but it was pretty even. They played the ball in our half as much as we played the ball in they're half. The score is not a reflection, but rather, we just did better things with the ball. We handled the ball and managed the ball better."

As part of the offensive onslaught, Colin Martin had two goals and two assists, Jesus Aragon, two assists, and Braedyn Chambry, one assist.

"Jack Farner, a junior on our team, had his best game," Rogoyski. "He's been phenomenal this season. And today, he wants to take it to another level."

Farner's success was made possible, Rogoyski noted, by the players around him.

"Every great forward has some great playmakers and we were feeding him some great balls, Rogoyski said. "That's 

every great forward has some great playmakers, and we were feeding him some great balls. That's the credit to our midfielder, Colin (Martin)."

With a record now of 15-2-1, Byron Bergen, the #2 seed, faces East Rochester, the #1 seed, for the sectional title in a match to be played at Avon High School on Saturday at 2 p.m.

"I'm excited," Rogoyski said. "I can't wait. I can't wait for Saturday. It's gonna be tough to have to wait three days. I want to play a doubleheader tonight. We're ready."

For more photos or to purchase prints, click here.

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Midfielder Colin Martin with the kick ... 
Photo by Howard Owens
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... and the score.
Photo by Howard Owens
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Jack Farner
Photo by Howard Owens
Jesus Aragon fights off a defender
Jesus Aragon fights off a challenger for ball control, which he did successfully despite going to the ground twice while also making a couple of clean tackles.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Jesus Aragon fights off a defender
#8 Jack Farner
Photo by Howard Owens.
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Keeper Martin Mac Connell with a save (more photos of this sequence in the link above).
Photo by Howard Owens.
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Photo by Howard Owens.

Byron-Bergen overcomes quick strike by Gananda to get 4-1 win in semifinal

By Howard B. Owens
Byron Bergen vs Gananda Girls Soccer 2023
Byron-Bergen's MacKenzie Hagen on the attack during the second half of Byron-Bergen sectional semi-final against Gananda at Pittsford-Sutherland.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Gananda didn't score a goal until the second minute of Tuesday's Section V Class C2 semifinal in Girls Soccer at Pittsford-Sutherland, which sort of felt like an accomplishment to Byron-Bergen Head Coach Wayne Hill.

"Last year, we played them (in postseason) and they scored in the first 10 seconds," Hill said after the Bees' 4-1 win. "We knew they're going to be pressing hard and fast early. I felt good that we didn't get scored out in the first minute. But they banged in one in the second minute."

Despite the quick strike, the Bees held their composure.

"We stayed level-headed," Hill said. "We stayed true to our game plan and weathered a little bit of a storm and then we played our game, and we took control of the game."

It didn't take long for Mia Gray, who already has more than 100 career points through her sophomore year, to even the tally with a high, long lob, followed by a goal by Grace Diquattro (who also got the assist on Gray's earlier goal).

"They (Gananda) score a lot of goals," Hill said. "They're used to winning. They're used to scoring a lot, and I think that variable gave us a little bit of an advantage when they got down."

A penalty kick by Megan Jarkiewicz that just tipped off the fingers of Gananda's keeper, Olivia Moskal, as it arched over her head, gave Byron-Bergen a 3-1 lead and two goals up can be huge in soccer.

It seemed the Bees had increasing control of the game as it went on, though Hill said he thought Gananda had about a 55 to 45 percent advantage in control.

"We capitalized better," Hill said. "I thought it was a nice even game. I'm happy to see that kind of game."

In the second half, Libby Starowitz knocked in a bullet from about 30 yards out to give the Bees the 4-1 lead, which proved decisive.

Two of Byron-Bergen's goals sailed high over Moskal, and that was by design, Hill indicated.

"We watched some game film and thought maybe we could hit something high," Hill said. "We switched up a couple of our free-kick takers. Megan Jarkiewicz hasn't taken a free kick all year and scored on one tonight. That makes me feel good that, you know, she was able to step up and do what she needed to do at the right time."

Mia Gray, one of the team's top scorers, stayed back more in a defensive formation against Gananda and that was by design, Hill said.

"Grenada has two very, very good center mids (midfielders)," Hill said. We had to play a little bit more defensively in the middle of the field so that they just didn't start steamrolling us. So yeah, Mia and Libby were both back a little bit more, and that left our strikers a little bit more alone. So we weren't so striker-driven like we normally are. And we just needed to help out our defense a little bit."

Even though Gananda came in as the #1 seed and Byron-Bergen the #4 seed, this win wasn't an upset, Hill said. He noted that some observes have called C2 "the bracket of death" because of its depth.

"There were so many teams at the start of this C2 bracket that all realistically had a chance," Hill said. "In the last game, we played a number five seed that had 14 wins. That's incredible. Usually, the number five is about a .500 team. So there's a lot of quality teams in this. I don't know if at any point, there's an upset just because each league is tough. Each league exposes people to different situations. We see that this month. We see that the schedule that we played has prepared us for this. So to say that there were any upsets? I don't think so. I think everybody's pretty fair."

Next up for Byron-Bergen, the Section C2 final against #3 Keshequa on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Gates-Chili.

For more photos and to purchase prints, click here.

Byron Bergen vs Gananda Girls Soccer 2023
Gananda goalkeeper Olivia Moskal managed to get two fingers on a penalty kick from Megan Jarkiewicz but it doesn't enough to keep the high, arching kick out of the net.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs Gananda Girls Soccer 2023
Megan Jarkiewicz celebrates her successful penalty kick with her teammates.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs Gananda Girls Soccer 2023
Ava Gray battles Isabella Hoffmann for the ball -- and she won the ball.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs Gananda Girls Soccer 2023
MacKenzie Hagen
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs Gananda Girls Soccer 2023
Emma Starowitz
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs Gananda Girls Soccer 2023
Grace DiQuatrro
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs Gananda Girls Soccer 2023
Elizabeth Starowitz with the ball.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs Gananda Girls Soccer 2023
Mia Gray with a long kick down field late in the game.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs Gananda Girls Soccer 2023
Ava Goff catches a pass off her chest.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs Gananda Girls Soccer 2023
Emma Starowitz
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs Gananda Girls Soccer 2023
Olivia Moskal is consoled by a teammate after Gananda lost to Byron-Bergen 4-1
Photo by Howard Owens

Batavia dealt tough loss in soccer sectionals, 2-0

By Howard B. Owens
batavia girls soccer vs. pal-mac
Batavia players react at the end of time to Pal-Mac in their 2-0 loss on Saturday in the Class A Girls Soccer quarterfinal playoff game at Van Detta Stadium while Pal-Mac players celebrate their win.
Photo by Howard Owens.

With only one loss, Batavia went into the postseason with one of its best -- perhaps its best -- seasons ever in Girls Soccer, as the #3 seed in Class A and hoping to advance.

The Blue Devils were 14-1-1 in the regular season, but Coach Roger Hume said he knew Palmyra-Macedon would be tough to beat, even though the Raiders finished up the regular season 10-5-1 and the #6 season in Class A.

The Blue Devils 2-0 on Saturday, then, was clearly disappointing to the Batavia squad.

Hume said he was proud of his team's effort and success over the course of the season.

"We had the best record in my 15 years (as head coach)," Hume said. "This group surprised me by how they weren't worried about anyone.  One game at a time. They came back and won two games in OT to keep their undefeated record.   We had five seniors who were all leaders with no drama. It was fun to come to practice.   They have set the bar high, but last year the bar was set for this group, and they crushed it.  Next year's group will be as strong, too."

Pal-Mac's forward, Lillian Boesel, scored both goals for the visiting team.

Batavia played hard through both halves of the match, firing 15 shots, but Pal-Mac keeper Marianna Hodgins came up with 10 saves against shots-on-goal.

The Blue Devils have had five chances to score on corner kicks.

The Raiders took 13 shots, with five on goal saved by Ava Higgins.

"We had enough to beat them," Hume said, "but they took advantage of their opportunities.

The Batavia soccer program -- boys and girls -- has been on the upswing since the move into Van Detta Stadium. The boys finished the season 8-7-1 with a first-round sectional loss to Pittsford Mendon, 9-1.

Girls Sectional Summary:

  • Class B: #8 Le Roy lost to #1 Haverling 1-0 in the quarterfinals.
  • Class C1: Oakfield-Alabama beat Letchworth in quarterfinals 3-0. The #3 seed will play #2 Williamsville on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Cal-Mum.
  • Class C2: #12 Alexander lost to #5 Dundee/Bradford in the pre-quarterfinals 2-1. #4 Byron-Bergen beat #13 Bolivar-Richburg in the quarterfinals 9-0 and next face #1 seed Ganada on Tuesday at a time and location to be determined.
  • Class D: #10 Notre Dame beat #7 Mount Morris 6-2 in the pre-quarterfinals and lost 1-0 to Northstar Christian Academy in the quarterfinals.

Boys Sectional Summary:

  • Class B: #7 Le Roy lost to #2 Livona 1-0 in the quarterfinal after beating #10 Attica/Alexander in the pre-quarterfinal 4-0.
  • Class C: #13 Pembroke lost #4 Keshequa 8-0 in the pre-quarterfinals.  #5 Pavilion/York lost on penalty kicks to Avon after a 2-2 tie in regulation time in the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, #2 Byron-Bergen beat #10 Holly 5-0. On Wednesday, the Bees face #3 Addison at 5 p.m. at Geneseo High School. 

To view more photos from Batavia's game and to purchase prints, click here.

batavia girls soccer vs. pal-mac
Ava Varland.
Photo by Howard Owens
batavia girls soccer vs. pal-mac
Ella Shamp
Photo by Howard Owens
batavia girls soccer vs. pal-mac
Jaimin Macdonald
Photo by Howard Owens
batavia girls soccer vs. pal-mac
Ella Shamp
Photo by Howard Owens
batavia girls soccer vs. pal-mac
Adyson O'Donnell with a shot on goal in the first half.
Photo by Howard Owens
batavia girls soccer vs. pal-mac
Isabella Walsh with a pass downfield during second half.
the Photo by Howard Owens
batavia girls soccer vs. pal-mac
Lilly Mileham.
Photo by Howard Owens
batavia girls soccer vs. pal-mac
Ella Radley
Photo by Howard Owens
batavia girls soccer vs. pal-mac
Head Coach Roger Hume
Photo by Howard Owens
batavia girls soccer vs. pal-mac
Jaimin Macdonald
Photo by Howard Owens

Oakfield-Alabama wins playoff game 3-0 in Girls Soccer

By Howard B. Owens
oakfield-alabama girls soccer

Oakfield-Alabama beat Letchworth on Saturday in the Class C sectional quarterfinal, 3-0.

No scoring summary is available for the game.

The Hornets (#3) will play a semifinal game Tuesday at 5 p.m. against Williamson (#2) at Cal-Mum.

Photos by Debra Reilly.

oakfield-alabama girls soccer
oakfield-alabama girls soccer
oakfield-alabama girls soccer
oakfield-alabama girls soccer
oakfield-alabama girls soccer

Batavia girls pick up 14th win to clinch Monroe D4 title in soccer

By Staff Writer

With its 14th win of the season, and no defeats, The Batavia Blue Devils Girls Soccer team clinched the Monroe League Division 4 crown.

Batavia beat division rival Greece Olympia 6-1.

With one regular season game left, the Blue Devils are ranked #1 in Class A at 14-0-1 with 4.367 seeding points and Aquinas trailing at 13-1-2 and 4.188 seeding points.

Batavia's final game is Friday at home against Greece Athena (Class AA, 8-5-0).

On Wednesday, Batavia Sophomore Ella Shamp started the scoring 11 minutes into the game off a pass from Ella Radley.  Anna Varland added a penalty kick goal three minutes later, and Ella Shamp added another goal in the first half off an assist from Anna Varland.  

Batavia added three more goals in the second half by Ella Radley, Ady O’Donnell, and Anna Varland, with assists from Jaimin MacDonald, Anna Varland, and Isabella Walsh.  

"The team is peaking at the right time and is really having fun," said Head Coach Roger Hume."They just want to play and play hard.  

Byron-Bergen controls game in 6-0 win over Alexander

By Howard B. Owens
Byron Bergen vs. Alexander Girls Soccer
Mia Gray scores Byron-Bergen's third goal in the first half.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Using artful ball handling and precision passing, Byron-Bergen picked apart Alexander's defense and notched its 13th win of the season in Girls Soccer, beating the Trojans 6-0.

Scoring:

  • Makenzie Hagen, assisted by Mia Gray 
  • Emma Starowitz, assisted by Mia Gray
  • Mia Gray, unassisted
  • Mia Gray, assisted by Libby Starowitz
  • Grace Diquattro, unassisted
  • Makenzie Hagen, assisted by Mia Gray

Nova Pocock and Natalie Prinzi combined in goal for the shutout.

"We do have very talented players," said Head Coach Wayne Hill when asked about his team's quality play. "They’ve put a lot of time in over the years working on their skills. We have an excellent JV and modified program with equally fantastic coaches. They prepare our kids to succeed at each level."

The Bees, with one regular season game left at home on Friday against Wheatland-Chili, are 13-3 and seeded #4 in Class C2. 

All three losses for the Bees game against higher-class teams -- 2-0 to Class AA Our Lady of Mercy, 4-1 to Class A Aquinas, and 5-4 against Class B Nichols.

"We’ve played a difficult schedule this year, which we are hoping prepares us for a successful postseason," Hill said.

Last season, Byron-Bergen went into the post-season undefeated and didn't lose until the state championship semifinal game in Cortland.

For more photos or to purchase prints, click here.

Byron Bergen vs. Alexander Girls Soccer
Elizabeth Starowitz takes at a goal in the first half of play.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs. Alexander Girls Soccer
MacKenzie Hagen reacts to a missed goal opportunity after Alexander goalie Madison Bezon blocks the shot.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs. Alexander Girls Soccer
Mia Gray.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs. Alexander Girls Soccer
Alexander's Sophia Pellegrino with the ball.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs. Alexander Girls Soccer
Emma Starowitz and Coach Wayne Hill.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs. Alexander Girls Soccer
Alexander's Madison Fuller.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs. Alexander Girls Soccer
Mia Gray.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs. Alexander Girls Soccer
Emma Starowitz
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs. Alexander Girls Soccer
Emma Starowitz
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs. Alexander Girls Soccer
Mia Gray
Photo by Howard Owens.
Byron Bergen vs. Alexander Girls Soccer
Mia Gray defended by Aaliyah Wright.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Batavia ties Greece Olympia 2-2 in Boys Soccer

By Press Release

Press release:

The Batavia Boys Varsity Soccer team tied Greece Olympia 2-2 in overtime on Tuesday evening. 

In this divisional matchup, Troy Hawley (#1) put Batavia ahead early in the game, assisted by Quintin Cummings (#4). 

Olympia equalized and then went up 2-1. With 4 minutes left in regulation time, Owen Halpin (#11) headed the ball in the net off Finn Halpin's (#2) corner kick. 

Since neither team scored in OT, the game ended in a 2-2 tie. 

Batavia’s record improved to 8 wins, 6 losses, and 1 tie with one game left in the season.

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