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Lady Wolverines fall in overtime

Photo by Matt Spielman Westfield/Brocton goalkeeper Angel Busch makes a save during Wednesday’s game against Frewsburg.

BROCTON — One-goal games are becoming common for the Frewsburg girls soccer team.

On the bright side, the Bears are getting better at winning them.

Freshman Kendal Sohl scored her sixth goal of the season in the fourth minute of overtime Wednesday to give Frewsburg its third one-goal win in its last four games with a 2-1 victory over Westfield/Brocton in Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Central Division action on the Brocton High School football field.

“We stuck with it. We’re a young team. We know that every game we play is going to be a grind. There are not going to be any easy ones in league play,” Frewsburg coach Scott Stone said. ” … We’re showing that we can win games a lot of different ways. To give up the late one and to rally, and come back and get one in the first overtime, it’s huge for a young team like ours.”

The win improved the Bears to 5-3 overall, including 4-1 in the league.

“We’re learning how to win together. We’re a mesh of younger girls and older girls. We’re still trying to find out what our identity is,” Stone added. ” … We want to set ourselves up to play our best soccer once playoffs roll around.”

The Wolverines received another stellar outing in net from sophomore Angel Busch, who turned aside 30 shots from the Bears and was only beaten by a pair of well-placed shots high in the net off her fingertips.

“She’s outstanding. She’s only a sophomore, which is nice. She’s come a long way. It’s really fun having her,” Westfield/Brocton coach Neil Huber said. “She has a great personality and lets stuff roll off her back. She doesn’t take it personally. She gets upset in the moment, but then she lets it go.”

Westfield/Brocton fell to 3-5 overall, including 2-3 in the league, but four of their losses have been by just one goal.

“We’re playing some of the top teams in our division right now. I have eight new starters from last year. They are fighting really hard and playing hard to the ball,” Huber said. “I’m very happy with how we’re playing and how they keep their composure. … We are playing as a team.”

Frewsburg opened the scoring Wednesday when eighth-grader Alex Hultberg capitalized on a free kick, beating Busch high in the center of the net for a 1-0 lead.

“That’s her second from 25 yards and out. She’s just clutch on those free kicks,” Stone said. “That was huge in the first half.”

The Bears carried play for much of the remainder of the opening 40 minutes, dominating possession in the Wolverines’ half of the field and making sure to pressure every Westfield/Brocton touch.

“We’re just a defensive team,” Stone said. “We’re not going to give up very many opportunities.”

In the final three minutes of the first half, Wolverines junior captain Laura Johnston gained a step on her defender down the left side of the field, but her shot to the far corner past a diving Alyssa Lobb went just wide of the post and out of play.

Neither team had much room to make plays because the game was played on the football field in Brocton, which is much narrower than the pitch at the Robert H. Jackson Athletic Complex in Frewsburg or the NorthLake Family Recreation Center in Westfield.

“It’s so narrow. … It does change the game a little bit. … Throw-ins are like corner kicks,” Stone said. “It’s equal for both teams so there’s not really much of an advantage.”

Frewsburg again controlled much of the second half until Westfield/Brocton was pushed to desperation in the final 10 minutes. Eventually awarded a corner kick, Wolverines sophomore Juli Smith sent a low ball to the near post that glanced off senior Jessica Lopez-Hernandez’s leg and got just over the goal line before Lobb was able to dive on it to tie the game, 1-1, in the 77th minute.

“We keep fighting right until the end,” Huber said. ” … That’s our first goal off a corner kick in quite some time.”

Early in the first 10-minute overtime session, Sohl took a throw-in from Kiara Marchincin near the sideline and let a shot rip from the 15-yard line that again glanced off Busch’s fingers and into the net for a 2-1 lead.

“I’ve been coaching Kendal for a number of years. She scores on any stage. … It doesn’t matter where it’s at, Kendal puts the ball in the back of the net,” Stone said. “She’s up there starting for a reason as a freshman.”

The Wolverines were able to up their pressure in spurts throughout the two overtime sessions, but Frewsburg’s back line of freshman Peyton Yost, junior Amanda Dilts, junior Rachel Annis and freshman Ava Hultberg were able to step in front of nearly ever shot attempt.

“We’re struggling to find our offensive identity. We’re just starting to click on offense,” Huber said. “To go toe-to-toe with one of the top teams in the division that makes a big difference. I’m pretty happy with that.”

Lobb was called upon to make four saves in net for the Bears, who return to action Friday at home against Pine Valley. Westfield/Brocton travels to Sinclairville to take on Cassadaga Valley on Friday.

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