Local Sports

Undefeated Wilson edges Golden Cougars 1-0

FALCONER -- In a close game, it can be just one play that makes all the difference between winning and losing. Unfortunately, for Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove on Monday afternoon, that chance was generated on the counterattack by Wilson junior Addison Elia, who showed why she is one of the top soccer recruits in the state by ripping an absolute snipe to the top right corner on the short side at a difficult angle.

Despite several more chances generated by both sides, Elia's goal from Lilly Gurski stood as the lone tally and Wilson edged Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove 1-0 in a nonleague contest at Bill Race Field that had all the feels of a postseason game.

"That's something we said in our postgame talk," Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove head coach Brett Johnson said. "This game could have very easily been tied or 1-0 in our favor. Ellyson (Baglia) kept us in the game with a couple of big saves, their goalie made one huge save for them as well. In close games one shot can be the difference maker."

Prior to Elia's strike, Wilson had a great opportunity with Lucy Madan breaking past the Golden Cougars defense, but Ellyson Baglia made the first of her six big saves in the contest.

After Wilson took the lead, Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove started winning possession in the midfield and it all started with senior Julianna Roth showing her high-end compete level and IQ from box to box.

"She creates a lot of opportunities," Johnson said about Roth. "She works so hard and she just makes everyone better around her. We're very happy to have No. 10 in the middle for us."

Roth generated the first few chances and the Toledo-commit nearly leveled the score in the 35th minute with a fantastic display of dribbling. Collecting the ball on her own end of the pitch, Roth dribbled through the heart of the field, cutting past four Wilson defenders in the process she had a one-on-one look against Brooke Urban in net, but could not slip the shot home.

With an importance on the midfield, Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove senior Kylie Kress dropped into more of an attacking midfield role to help win balls and gave Roth another option with Division I skill.

"Kylie has great ball skill," Johnson said about Kress. "Her vision is awesome so she creates a lot of opportunities for herself and just lifts the play of the girls around her."

With the Mercer University-committed Kress sacrificing some of her offensive part of the game the Golden Falcons had fewer chances at goal, but that did not stop the Division I talent from getting a good chance. In the final minutes of the game, Roth connected with Kress on a long ball and she had a chance from the same spot as Elia, but just missed the mark.

"It's something we've been harping on," Johnson stated. "We have to play a full 80 minutes every game and luckily today we did. We're very happy with how they played, but moving forward there are no games off, no minutes off, no plays off. You've got to be 110% the whole time."

The Golden Cougars had more quality opportunities in the first half and Wilson (13-0-0) came out more aggressive in the final 40. The Lakewomen put plenty of pressure on the Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove defense, but the Golden Cougars did not back down in the physical contest and kept the score the same.

"They did a good job staying tight and communicating," Johnson said about his defense. "If you can do those two things against a player like Elia you're going to be pretty successful. She's a good player and they got one through, they timed it up and she made a nice play on it."

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove (10-3-1) did not get the result it wanted, but it served as a great tone setter heading to the playoffs.

"We've had a lot of close games all season," Johnson stated. "Just to add another one right before playoffs it's a good test for us. These are the types of games you're going to get once you get to sectionals. Obviously, it didn't go our way, but we're happy with the product we put on the field today."