By Dylan O’Loughlin
RED CREEK, N.Y. — It was a rematch of the 2025 Class C1 quarterfinals in the 2026 semifinals as the No. 2 Red Creek Mules hosted the reigning Class C1 champs No. 3 Holley Hawks at Hartley Field. In a game where the Hawks dominated possession, sophomore Carsyn Mogle netted the lone goal of the game to lift Holley (12-5-1) to the championship.
It’s the fourth straight year in a row where the two squads faced each other in sectionals with the Hawks winning every one.
“We knew it was going to be tough, we knew it wasn’t going to be a blow out because Red Creek comes in hard,” Holley head coach Renee Wolf said. “We played them I believe the last three or four years in a row and they always play tough to the last minute. We definitely prepared, we came in with some knowledge and now we just start over and go on to the next game.”
Both teams started the game fast as neither team could truly gain possession. No saves occurred until 15 minutes into the game where Red Creek’s senior goal keeper Aylee Cooper made a save on the first shot on goal of the game.
Once that first shot on goal happened though, Holley began to take control of the game. The Hawks’ momentum carried throughout the first half as they got many shot attempts, but most were saved by Cooper including back-to-back saves to prevent a score midway through the first half.
But, with 15 minutes to go in the opening 40, Holley broke the ice. After a throw in by the Hawks, freshman Emma Burne gained control of the ball. Burne then crossed the ball towards the net where Mogle corralled it facing the back of the net, turned around on her defender and delivered a strike into the bottom right corner of the net where Cooper could not make the save.
It’s the sophomore’s 12th goal of the year (T-9th in C1) and the second time she scored in the playoffs against Red Creek. In 2025, she delivered another goal to help lead Holley to a 2-1 victory.
“It felt great, I truly don’t know what I saw,” Mogle said of the goal. “The ball just popped through and I took it, spun around and kicked it.”
In the second half, the Hawks maintained control of the game. Every time Red Creek pushed the ball into Holley’s territory, the defense kept turning over the Mules to prevent any chances of scoring.
“Truly my defense is always there, they’re always backing each other up,” junior goal keeper Zoey Warner said. “They always have great layering. Our midfield will drop back if our defense gets beat. It all just works really well back there for us and I’m always there to step back and if I miss it my defense it always behind me.”
The closest Red Creek got to scoring in the second half came on a free kick. The third-highest goal scorer in Class C1, senior Bethanie Keefe (15) had an attempt to tie the game, but just missed hitting the crossbar.
Another reason that the Mules couldn’t gain control was because of the fast-pace, ball-moving offense led by junior Jayna Burris. It was complementary to the defense as multiple turnovers caused by the defense and not losing the ball on offense led to Holley’s 11th shutout of the season.
With the win, Holley extends its win streak to nine with seven of those victories coming via shutout.
“I have to fill big shoes with two of our girls being injured and we’ve all kind of stepped up together and figured it out together,” Burris explained. “I just try to be everywhere so I can be there for my team and make the plays happen.”
Next up for the Hawks is the Class C1 championship against top-seeded Avon (13-2-3) who defeated No. 4 Byron-Bergen 1-0 in the semifinals.
“We still have to continue to work in the next couple days,” Wolf stated. “It’s not going to be an easy win and we have to do what we need to do.”
Holley and Avon face off at Geneseo High School for the Class C1 Sectional Championship on Friday, Oct. 30. First kick is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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