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Erick’s hat trick leads Fredonia to win

ELLICOTTVILLE — The Fredonia Lady ‘Billies girls soccer team — led by a Laural Erick hat trick — came away with a 3-2 victory in a non-league road match against Ellicottville on Friday.

Fredonia (1-1) fell behind early on the road on a goal by freshman Mandy Hurlburt just minutes into the game. Still, the Lady ‘Billies would not give up, providing an immediate answer. Erick scored her first goal of the game in the eighth minute on an assist from Caelin Holt. Just over ten minutes later, Erick scored again, this time on a feed from Ella Gould. Fredonia maintained its 2-1 lead through the rest of the first half.

After the break, Erick found the back of the net once again to complete the hat trick. Kelly Lucas found Erick for the third goal of the game at close to the 11 minute mark of the second half.

“I’m really proud of how the girls worked off the ball together,” said Fredonia coach Brett Gould.

Still, the game was far from over.

Ellicottville (0-1) added a goal from Hurlburt once again, cutting the deficit in half. The remainder of the game was a closely contested match.

What may have been the defining moment of the game came on an Ellicottville breakaway. Fredonia goalkeeper Kelly Gullo came out from the net to challenge the forward on the breakaway. Gullo made the save with her outstretched hand to keep the ball from going into the bottom of the net, preserving the one-goal Fredonia lead. The score held at 3-2 ’til the final whistle.

“She made an absolutely lights out save,” said Coach Gould. “That saved the game for us. It probably would’ve ended in a tie if it weren’t for that save.”

Gullo finished with 5 saves for Fredonia in the win.

“We played our identity tonight,” said Gould. “To win a game on the road like that and see the smiles on the girls’ faces, that’s what it’s all about.”

Boys soccer:

Ellicottville 2,

Fredonia 0

ELLICOTTVILLE — Ellicottville defeated Fredonia, 2-0, in a non-league boys varsity soccer game on Friday night. The Eagles (1-0) scored one goal in each half. Fredonia (0-2) finished with 25 shots on goal, but failed to score for the second straight game. The Hillbillies next game is on Sept. 11 against Southwestern, in the league opener for both teams.

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