Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove's Julianna Roth dribbles along the touchline during Saturday's CCAA Division 1 game against Jamestown at Strider Field. OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms

JAMESTOWN — Kylie Kress led the Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove Golden Cougars in scoring last season and she was on pace to do it again this year.

However, an injury sustained this past Wednesday at Allegany-Limestone has sidelined the junior forward for the next 1-3 weeks.

Losing a key piece on offense, the Golden Cougars are in need of other girls to step up and on Saturday morning at Strider Field it was captains Julianna Roth and Mary Lundmark providing the firepower in a 5-0 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 1 victory over Jamestown.

“Obviously, losing her is tough,” Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove head coach Brett Johnson said about Kress. “She’s a huge part of our offense, but it’s just next man up kind of thing. Somebody has got to step up and we did that today. We didn’t play our best, but we found ways to put the ball in the goal.”

Already competing in one of the best divisions in Section VI, Jamestown put Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove to the test early.

Jamestown forward Payton Gibbs, left, and Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove defender Madilyn Seastrum battle for the ball during the second half of Saturday's CCAA Division 1 matchup at Strider Field. OBSERVER photo by Christian Storms

“I think we had a great first half,” Jamestown head coach Jason Kathman stated. “We played tough, we pressured where we wanted the girls to press and it was kind of a mess in the middle third and that’s kind of what we wanted it to be. … I thought our girls played really well against a really good team.”

However, the early Jamestown pressure subsided after the first 15 minutes and then the Golden Cougars seized the momentum when Sydnee Snow made an inspired run down the left wing. Snow dribbled past her defender and began cutting in on goal, instead of electing for the shot she made a nifty move over the keeper and racing from the inside Lundmark was able to put the finishing touch on the goal line for a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute.

Not long after that, Roth found a few seconds free near the 20-yard line and smashed a howitzer to the top part of the net to grab a 2-0 lead before halftime.

“They’re both just such hard workers and huge parts of our success,” Johnson said about Roth and Lundmark. “I’m glad we have them, they’re dawgs. They work hard out there, so I’d hate to play against them.”

Once Falconer/Cassadag Valley/Maple Grove established its lead, the Red & Green knew they had a long road to victory against the current Division 1 leaders.

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove's Brynn Helms, left, and Jamestown's Carley Daniels battle at midfield during CCAA Division 1 action at Strider Field on Saturday. OBSERVER photo by Christian Storms

“There are great kids across all of our teams,” Kathman said about Division 1. “Everytime you walk onto the field it is going to be a good game, it’s going to be a hard fought game. So this is just good for our sport in our area to have so many good players.”

Jamestown freshman Kinsley Berg had the best chance for the Red & Green in the 54th minute when she blazed past the defense for a one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper, but Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove’s Ellyson Baglia made a huge save. The stop kept the Red & Green off the board and was one of four in Baglia’s clean sheet effort.

As Baglia kept Jamestown (1-11-1, 1-8-1) off the board, JaLeiya Glover made an inspired effort in net to keep the Red & Green in the game.

“I can’t believe what JaLeiya has done from the beginning of the season to this point,” Kathman said about his goalkeeper. “The fact that the way she comes out now versus the beginning of the year. She is unafraid and you have to be that if you’re going to be that last of defense. Her confidence builds and the way our girls are cheering her on from the sideline, it’s just been a joy to watch and to think she’s a sophomore and can grow that much that fast says the world about her.”

Glover made 16 saves in the contest, including stopping both Roth and Lundmark on golden opportunities.

Jamestown goalkeeper JaLeiya Glover dives to make one of her 16 saves against Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove in CCAA Division 1 action on Saturday at Strider Field. OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms

However, Lundmark and Roth eventually got the last laugh with three more goals between them in the second half.

In the 70th minute, Roth nodded home a header off a corner kick by Gracie Chimera. Then in the 74th minute, Lundmark cleaned up a rebound from a Bailey Olson shot and in the 80th minute Roth finished off her hat trick finishing an even better cross into the box by Snow.

“It kind of forces our hand to come up with a secondary gameplan if we need something to fall back on,” Johnson added about the next few weeks without Kress. “Obviously, you hate to see her go, but it kind of forces us to find other ways to win.”

The Golden Cougars (7-4-0, 7-2-0) control their destiny towards a division title, but facing the three teams chasing them next and without Kress it will be no easy task.

“Our league has really gotten kind of shook up this year,” Johnson stated. “It seems like on any given night anybody can win. They (Jamestown) came out, they played hard, I was really impressed with them the whole game. Just credit to our girls for sticking to the gameplan and working hard the whole time.”

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove's Julianna Roth celebrates after scoring the first of her three goals against Jamestown in CCAA Division 1 action at Strider Field on Saturday. OBSERVER photo by Christian Storms

Jamestown's Kinsley Berg dribbles into the offensive end against Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove in CCAA Division 1 action at Strider Field on Saturday. OBSERVER photo by Christian Storms

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove's Mary Lundmark taps in the first goal of the game against Jamestown in CCAA Division 1 action at Strider Field on Saturday. OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms