Story and Photos By Janet Schultz, NYHOL
The Niagara County Lady Warriors come into 2024 on a winning streak that spans all 12 games in the W column, 10 of those are League games and putting them into a playoff position as we enter week 6.
HEWS follows with an 8-2-1 record and is 4.5 points behind NICO. Then it’s KenGiPort, FFLOP, St. Mary’s of Lancaster, Monsignor Martin, LIDA, CASH and Williamsville.
On top in scoring are Madison Mallone with 11 goals and 7 assists for 18 points; Sam Latini, 8 goals/9 assists, Isabelle Bourgeault 6 goals/10 assists, Isabella Jayme with 9 goals/6 assists and Marina Mansfield, 9 goals/5 assists.. Mallone, Latini and Manfield are from NICO with Bourgeault and Jayme from KenGiPort.
Goaltending has been a key factor in several games with Rachael Fix of FFLOP having a .976 save% followed by Kennedy Ruest (NICO) .945, Ella Buczynski (HHEWS) .938, Betsy Accurso (StMarys), .938 and Samantha Horne (KGIP) .928.
Several teams have goalies that play each and every game and are racking up minutes between the pipes including Ruest (NICO) with 540 minutes and 4 shutouts; Olivia Lookman (Williamsville) 448.2 minutes and Kate Kelley (MMAA) 449.10 minutes. Along with Ruest, Buczynski has had 4 shutouts and Avery Hall (St. Marys) and Kerrigan McCarthy (FFLOP) have each had two shutouts.
So in the New Year it was KenGiPort 3-1 over LIDA. Jayme, Bourgeault and Madelyn Jagow scoring, Bourgeault with the game-winner. Horne stopped 23/24 sog. LIDA’s Leah Dowling had the lone goal with Irzycki stopping 17/20.
This week saw several shut-outs.
NICO beat Monsignor Martin 4-0 with Lawrence, Sam Draper, Julia Hoffman and Zimmerman making the score board. Ruest stopped all 19 shots for the shutout win. MMAA Kelley stopped 26/30.
In the “Nut Bowl” HHEWS shutout CASH 3-0 with scoring from Meghan Waszkielewicz (2) and Alexandra Hodil with Buczynski and Rakoski making the saves. CASH’s Celej stopped 36/39.
FFLOP beat CASH 3-0 at home with Sophia Lestingi having the game-winner plus another goal and Peyton Forcucci scoring the other goal. McCarthy made 26 saves for the shutout. Celej stopped 33/36 for the lsos.
St. Mary’s shutout Williamsville 6-0 with Avery Szczesek having a hattrick, including the game-winner. Also scoring for St. Mary’s were Gall, Pagano and Brooklyn Vitez. Hall made 10 saves for the win. Lookman stopped 27 of 33 for Williamsville.
Meghan Waszkielewicz had the game winning goal for HHEWS’ 1-0 victory over Monsignor Martin. Buczynski stopped 14 shots for the win. In goal for MMAA Kelley stopped 24/25.
NICO stopped LIDA 2-0 with Sam Latini scoring both goals for the Lady Warriors. Ruest made 20 saves for the win. In goal for LIDA Irzycki stopped 23/25.
In the sixth week of WNYGVIH play it will be LIDA vs St. Mary’s of Lancaster at 4 p.m. and FFLOP at HEWS at 8:55 pm on Monday.
Tuesday will be a triple-header with CASH at LIDA, Webster at Monsignor Martin (Non-League at Dwyer) and Williamsville at KenGiPort.
Niagara County faces Williamsville at Northtowns on Wednesday.
A double-header on Thursday with KenGiPort at FFLOP and St. Mary’s at CASH.
Admission is free, come out and support these teams and your high school.
