By PAUL GOTHAM
RIGA, N.Y — The season schedule didn’t do Churchville-Chili girls’ soccer any favors.
On the first week of school, the reigning New York State Class AA finalists drew perennial champions Spencerport and Webster Thomas, a Class AA semifinalist a year ago.
Churchville traveled for both games.
And the results weren’t favorable.
The Saints harnessed the frustration from those two losses (2-1 to Spencerport and 4-0 to Thomas) and used that to focus their efforts, Wednesday evening on their home field.
“Our last game last week against Thomas was extremely disappointing for us as a group and as a team,” head coach Brooke Elnicky said after C-C (2-2-0) topped Brighton (3-2-0), 3-0. “We didn’t feel that really reflected Saint soccer. So, honestly, tonight, clearly, the result is great, but it was more about just really being able to come together and really being able to play the way that we know that we could.”
Three different players found the back of the net, and Alivia Tisa registered her second shutout of the season.
Emma Ferrari started the scoring in the 10th minute. The sophomore forward won a ball in the air to redirect a service from Sarah Ciminelli for a 1-nil lead.
“It was a great way to start,” Elnicky said. “I just told the team our last game was not an indicator of us as a group. The last few days of practice, they have really been about how are we going to use this to fuel our season. I was hopeful that this is what we would show, but until it actually happens, you just don’t know.”
Ava Fedele converted on a corner kick from Ciminelli with six minutes left in the half to double the advantage. Fedele stayed far post to redirect Ciminelli’s ball from the left flag.
The restart was one of 10 corner kicks on the night from the Saints.
“I’m glad we converted on one, Elnicky said. “I would love to convert on more if we’re able to draw that many. That’s something we’ve been working on, and we will continue to for sure.”
Elise Faix capped the scoring in the 61st minute. The sophomore midfielder finished a Brynn Sudol cross from the right flank.
Ninth-grader Alivia Tisa made two saves for the Saints’ second shutout of the season.
“That was our game plan,” Elnicky said of the limited scoring chances that the Saints’ defense allowed. “That was exactly it. We’ve been working really hard, our back line and our team defense. We want to press hard and press quick, not allow those through balls, or those other opportunities for the opposition to create offensively.
“Tonight really was about that grit and that perseverance to do the things that we know we can do. It was more for ourselves, honestly, than for anybody else.”
Churchville travels to play at Gates Chili next Tuesday. Brighton hosts Pittsford Sutherland this Friday for a 7 PM kickoff.
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