East soccer excels at Cohocton Showcase
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Despite graduating several key players from last year's Section VI Class A title team, Williamsville East girls soccer opened the season without missing a beat.

The Lady Flames defeated Section V's Wayne, 5-1, and Livonia, 3-0, at last weekend's Cohocton Soccer Showcase in Cohocton, N.Y.

"With over half of the team new, I was happy, excited and surprised at how well we're playing at this point," said East coach Chris Durr.

The teams East defeated were not slouches. Durr said Wayne made it to the Section V Class A semifinals; Livonia is the defending Class B state champions.

Durr said the 5-1 score against Wayne was not indicative of the type of game that was played. Wayne took a 1-0 lead at the 22-minute mark of the first half after Lindsay Tegas scored on a penalty kick.

East tied it up 13 minutes later when Jenny Griffin scored on a one-timer from Jessica Kowalski.

"Jess Kowalski had a short corner kick to the middle of the box and Jenny got her foot on it and knocked it up into the upper corner of the net," said Durr. "It was a beautiful goal."

Griffin would score the next two goals. Her second came six minutes into the second half from Kendra Durden. Her third goal was from Kayla Acklin and Kowalski.

"She was probably the best player last year for us but we didn't count on her as much as we have to this year," said Durr of Griffin. "She has to play well in every game for us to be successful."

Kowalski scored on a penalty kick at the 27-minute mark to give the Lady Flames a 4-1 lead.

Ashley Slisz tallied East's fifth goal and first of her varsity career with nine minutes remaining. Durden knocked the ball across, Tara Kiernan deflected it in and Slisz hammered the ball in the net just before it went over the goal line.

Goalie Josephine Bochiechio, replacing graduated senior Molly Bojanek, recorded seven saves for her first varsity win.

East got a tougher test against Livonia.

"In the first 15 to 20 minutes, they had a couple of good opportunities and Josephine made a couple of nice saves," said Durr.

East opened the scoring at the 22-minute mark. Alex Lima got the ball to Kiernan, who went in one on one with a Livonia sweeper, and laid it across to Kowalski, who put it in the far post on the ground.

The game stayed tied until the 20-minute mark of the second half when Durden and Kiernan assisted Griffin. The goal was huge because Livonia was taking the play to East in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Three minutes later, Griffin put a through ball to Kiernan, who fired a beautiful left-footed shot from about 16 yards away that went into the upper hand corner of the goal.

Bochiechio made 10 saves for her first varsity shutout.

Durr also lauded the play during both games of senior outside defensive back Kristen Saviola and sophomore midfielder/ forward Kelly McNamara.

It doesn't get any easier this week for East. The Lady Flames (2-0) host Section V powerhouse Pittsford-Mendon at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the North French Soccer Complex. Durr said East's home field is unplayable. Last year, Pittsford Mendon lost to Victor in the section final, which ended East's season in regionals.

"We're going to have to play well to beat Pittsford Mendon and winning these two games gives us more confidence to play with a team like them," said Durr.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com