Nationally-ranked East posts playoff shutouts
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville East not only shut out its two opening round opponents in the Section VI Class A girls soccer tournament last week, they found out they are nationally ranked for the second straight year.

East is ranked 18th in the country, according to the recent National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Adidas National Rankings poll. The Lady Flames are also third in Region II, which primarily encompasses New York State teams. East earned the same rankings last year.

East, seeded first in the Class A tournament, sure played like they belonged in the national rankings, blanking sixteenth-seed West Seneca East, 5-0, in a prequarterfinal last Tuesday and eighth-seed Albion, 5-0, last Friday in the quarterfinals.

The Lady Flames (18-0-2) scored four of its five goals in the first 15 minutes against West Seneca East and led Albion 3-0 at halftime. The Lady Flames' defense was also strong, holding West Seneca East to two saves and Albion to no shots on goal. Goalie Josephine Bochiechio recorded her fourteenth and fifteenth shutouts of the season.

"We had good contributions out of everyone," said East coach Chris Durr. "Katie Griffin was great in the midfield; Neha Bakhai and Morgan Begy were great up the middle at stopper and sweeper, respectively; outside defenders Jordan Kowalski, Olivia Quenneville and Kristen Saviola were strong; and midfielder Kayla Acklin played good at center midfield when Jenny Griffin came out or goes to forward."

Tara Kiernan got the scoring going for East versus West Seneca East six minutes in from Jessica Kowalski and Jenny Griffin. Seven minutes later, Jenny Griffin, assisted by Katie Griffin and Jessica Kowalski, fired a hard shot over the West Seneca East goalie's head that went into the top corner of the net. Two minutes later, Acklin scored on a one-timer from 16 yards out on a cross from Becky Fedak and an assist by Bakhai.

Jessica Kowalski (Fedak, Jenny Griffin) and Fedak (Kiernan, Jenny Griffin) scored at the 30- and 35-minute mark, respectively, to close out the scoring.

"Scoring three goals in the first 15 minutes really put them away," said Durr.

Jessica Kowalski opened East's scoring against Albion at the 6-minute mark from Jenny Griffin. Jenny Griffin scored 17 minutes later from Fedak and Acklin on a cross that she volleyed into the net. Bakhai made it 3-0 at the 34-minute mark on a cross from Katie Griffin and Kiernan.

In the second half, Jenny Griffin carried the ball from 15 yards on East's side of the field and through the Albion defense to score on a breakaway 19 minutes in. Becca Rumschik closed the scoring at the 39-minute mark with her first varsity goal on a cross from Kiernan and Lauren Lapoint.

"The ball went over the goalie's head and to the far post and she knocked it in," said Durr. "She was in the right spot at the right time."

East, ranked first in Western New York, hosted Pioneer on Tuesday in a Class A semifinal rematch but the result was unavailable before The Bee went to press. East won last year 4-0. The winner plays East Aurora or Starpoint at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at Amherst High School for the Class A title.

Jenny Griffin is one goal away from tying the school's single-season scoring record, set in 1996 by Sherrie Harrishburg. Griffin has 23 goals, the record is 24.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com