By PAUL GOTHAM
WEST SENECA, N.Y. — Owen Doherty converted a pair of penalty kicks, and Sam Edwards added another score as Section VI champion Ellicottville defeated reigning state champion Fillmore, 3-0 Friday night in New York State Class D Far West Regional action at West Seneca West High School.
“They’re a great squad,” Fillmore head coach Jarrett Vosburg said of Ellicottville. “They played some really good possession soccer tonight, and they won a couple more battles than we did.”
Doherty gave the Eagles the lead late in the first half.
“Any time they score right before halftime that’s a tough task,” Vosburg said. “I thought we responded all right. We just couldn’t get things flowing like we have for the rest of the season.”
Fillmore (20-1-0) had beaten Ellicottville (13-3-1) in the past two regional championships. The elements were a factor Friday as a steady breeze blew end-to-end throughout the match.
“I felt like we had a lot of quality chances even in the first half going into the wind that was a big challenge for us. We just could not punch it through the goal line.”
Edwards scored on a counter with 24:40 remaining in the match.
Ellicottville keeper Evan Bauer made five saves and received help from teammate Ben Edwards who cleared another shot off the line.
“Credit to them. They did an incredible job filling for each other. That’s what you preach on defense. They’re a good squad, and I wish them all the best.”
56’ NYSPHSAA Class D Far West Regional: Sam Edwards gives Ellicottville a 2-nil lead. pic.twitter.com/h4dbab3vhB
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 4, 2023
The loss snapped a run of 43 consecutive wins for Fillmore which dated back the 2021 state championship game. The streak ranks ninth all-time in the state. The Shenendehowa squad from 1990-92 holds the record with 69 straight wins. Spencerport’s (1972-74) 49 wins in a row tops Section V.
“We’ve been on the other end a lot of times, tonight was our turn for the soccer gods to not go our way.”
Ellicottville will make its first appearance in the state semifinals. The Eagles will play Poland (III) or South Kortright (IV).
Fillmore ends the season a three-time sectional champ.
“It takes kids that are willing to be coached, willing to be pushed and want to get better each and every day in practice,” Vosburg said. “It takes parents that support them, get them to practices and drive them to summer soccer. Just do whatever it takes to build a program. It takes a community that lives and breathes Fillmore soccer.”
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