WALWORTH, N.Y. — Isabella Hoffman and Nicole Cruz scored a goal apiece as the Gananda girls’ soccer team continued its undefeated season with a 2-0 victory over Marion in Wayne County action, Friday night.
Hoffman opened the scoring in the contest’s sixth minute. Cruz found the back of the net in the closing moments before halftime for all the offense the host Blue Panthers needed.
With the win, Gananda completed a regular-season sweep of the Black Knights having taken a 4-nil decision in late September.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM DENNIS JOYCE HERE.
“Marion is always a tough opponent,” Gananda head coach Emily Slentz said. “The girls stepped up to the challenge. We played two good games against them.”
Ella Lathrop set up both of Gananda’s goal. The sophomore center mid gathered a clearing attempt before leading Hoffman through Marion’s backline for the first goal.
6’ No offsides here: Izzy Hoffman gets @GHSAthletics1 on the scoreboard. pic.twitter.com/DipfRXPbFS
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 7, 2022
Later, Lathrop fed a ball into the penalty area that Cruz finished from just outside the six-yard box.
Gananda peppered Marion keeper Mia Hosbach with 18 shots.
“We’ve got some great passers on this team,” Slentz said of her team’s ability to create opportunities. “We did have a lot of looks. I know a lot of our shots went over (the crossbar) tonight.”
Lyndsey Valletta made five saves for her seventh shutout in the past nine games. Of those saves, few were stiff tests for the senior keeper. Her defense anchored by Nyah Cruz and Emerson Paull contained the Marion offense throughout night.
Big save from Mia Hosbach. @GHSAthletics1 still leads 1-0 late in the first half pic.twitter.com/3i3ucXiNZh
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 7, 2022
“The girls are keeping a great attitude,” Slentz noted. “We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. We’re only thinking about the opponent that we have on that night and stressing that we work together and play our game.”
Gananda improved to 13-0-0 with one week remaining in the regular season. The Blue Panthers travel to play at Sodus and East Rochester next Tuesday and Thursday before hosting Le Roy on Friday. Slentz’s squad holds the top spot in Class C1 with Geneseo (12-1-0) and Marcus Whitman (12-1-1) following in second and third, respectively.
Marion fell to 10-3-0. The Black Knights attempted to neutralize Gananda’s offense by starting Abigail Marotta (31 goals, 16 assists) at center back. Marotta left the game with an injury in the 61st minute and did not return to action. Marion was already missing three players from its lineup due to injury.
How come no boys soccer capsules from Saturday?
My son gets his first goal of the year and nothing