CALEDONIA, N.Y. — Chad Schalk and his Caledonia-Mumford girls’ soccer team are taking little for granted this season.
With three ninth-graders and five sophomores in the starting lineup, every achievement is noted.
So the significance of Tuesday’s opening round victory in sectionals was not lost on Schalk. Even if that triumph came at the expense of an opponent with five wins during the regular season.
“We haven’t won a first-round game in four years,” Schalk said after Cal-Mum’s 5-0 win over No. 12 seed Kendall. “We had a lot of things that we wanted to check off the list this year. Things that we haven’t done in quite a while. That was one of them.”
Marisa Roides scored twice while ninth-grader Bre Bishop added a goal and two assists as the No. 5 Raiders advanced to the Class C2 quarter-finals.
“Our schedule kinda prepares us for this,” Schalk noted. “We play Warsaw twice. We get Keshequa twice. We had Dansville on the schedule. We play tough games night in and night out. We’re in those games where it’s intense. It’s emotional. It’s like a sectional game, so I feel like we’re used to that.”
Roides needed just :24 seconds to give Cal-Mum all the offense it needed.
Holly McGinnis set up the play along the left wing. The junior won a ball near midfield and made a rush along the flank before playing a pass into the 18-yard box where Roides finished along the far post.
Cal-Mum needs :24 seconds to strike. Marissa Roides redirects a Holly McGinnis cross. pic.twitter.com/dNRYflzE7D
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 18, 2022
After taking advantage of an own goal, Bishop ran on to a pass from fellow ninth-grader Emma Brogan and finished for a 3-nil Cal-Mum lead less than 16 minutes into the contest.
“One of the points we’ve had all year, really because last year was the opposite, is to start fast. In the beginning of the year, we started a little bit slow, but then we made it a point of emphasis to get going and get on an opposing team quickly. Trying to play more proactive instead of being reactive. We’ve done a good job with that.”
16’ Bre Bishop goes far post with an Emma Brogan lead to give Cal-Mum a 3-nil lead. pic.twitter.com/bsUMmx5yW8
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 18, 2022
The game stayed that way until the second half when Roides found the back of the net one minute into the second stanza.
“Any time you get a goal within 30 seconds, that just puts the other team back on their heels,” Schalk stated. “Then to do the same thing in the second half, come out and get a goal in the first minute.”
68’ Ninth-grader Emma Brogan wins a foot race and gives Cal-Mum a 5-nil advantage. pic.twitter.com/TvzKMRtACO
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 18, 2022
Brogan capped the scoring in the 68th minute when she took advantage of a one-on-one situation.
Madison Wyskiel made five saves for her third straight shutout and sixth clean sheet of the season.
With the victory, Cal-Mum (12-4-0) doubled its win total from a season ago.
“We’re young, but at the same time the ninth graders have been around for two years. Sophomores have been around three years. We’re young but we’ve got quite a bit of experience, too.”
The Raiders will face the winner of No. 4 Warsaw and No. 13 Lyndonville/Barker in the quarter-finals.
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