By PAUL GOTHAM
SCOTTSVILLE, N.Y. — Brianna Tomasino and Brynn Thomas netted a goal apiece, and Holley girls’ soccer went on to defeat Caledonia-Mumford, 2-0 in the opening round of the annual Megan Carl Memorial tournament hosted by Wheatland-Chili Central Schools.
Tomasino connected from just outside the six-yard box to break a scoreless tie in 55th minute. Thomas converted on a corner kick less than nine minutes later.
The game was the season opener for both teams with Holley coming off a run to the NYS Class C semifinals.
“We’re pretty much a brand-new team,” said Holley head coach, Renee Wolf. “It’s tough for the girls who played last year. They’re coming off everybody knowing what they’re doing because they were all together for about three or four years, but we’re adjusting well.”
Alivia Wolf, Zoey Wolf, Alexia Renner and Mia Thom are the returning starters from a team that ended a two-decade-plus sectional title drought and went on to claim the first regional championship in program history.
“One thing that I keep telling them is that they have to be leaders out there because the younger players are looking up to them with what we should do.
“Alivia was an outside back last year, so moving her to the middle is a different position with a lot of running. She was definitely tired, but she worked hard.”
Tomasino’s goal came after Holley started to gain momentum late in the first half. Coming out of the break, the Hawks worked for two corner kicks in the opening eight minutes of the second stanza. Tomasino made it count a few moments after that. Jayna Burris assisted on the play.
“The first half that was most of theirs first game, so it’s the butterflies and the excitement and the nervousness.
“In the second half, they looked at the space that they had and used each other. We played small. It’s an important thing, and they’ll get it. They just got to learn to slow down and play possession.”
Thomas redirected Kyla Burne’s service from the left flag for Holley’s second goal. The conversion on a set piece was important for Wolf who noted that a one week preseason put pressure on a young squad looking to get ready for competition.
“Yesterday was our first day that we worked on corner kicks. The first part of our season is really trying to get to know each other on the field. Figure out what everybody is doing. They’re learning and working hard. That’s all I can ask for.”
Jayda Shampine made three saves for the shutout.
Holley will face either host Wheatland-Chili or Oakfield-Alabama in Saturday’s championship game.
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