The Foster Brook Glass and Mirror U15 Girls travel soccer team completed an undefeated season with a championship win at the 2017 Gates Soccer Tournament and Festival. The team completed their league and tournament season by going 17-0-0 and outscoring their opponents by a combined 86-6.
In the first game Bradford defeated the Lancaster Titans 4-0. Liz Miller started the scoring off a pass from fellow attacking midfielder Laney Kahle. Regan Johnson extended the lead to 2-0 off a clearing pass from goalkeeper Lea Annechino. Kahle scored off a feed from Chloe Shaw before Johnson closed out the scoring on a penalty kick.
Bradford defeated the Rush-Herietta Falcons 5-0 in game two. Johnson had two markers along with Jimmerson on a free kick. Also netting goals for Bradford were Madeline Cowburn and Emily Prince. Annechino was in goal for her second shutout turning aside two shots.
The third game saw the Bradford girls defeat host Gates Metro 7-0. Johnson, Cowburn, Kahle, Marissa Buccolini, Stuck, Miller and Abby Nuzzo all dented the twine. Annechino was in goal for the third straight shutout.
The championship game pitted the team in a rematch with Lancaster. Johnson opened the scoring finishing off a great run by Lucas and beating the goalkeeper. Cowburn then made an equally great run down the opposite sideline before passing to Johnson for the finish. Jimmerson closed out the scoring with a 35 yard free kick that lofted perfectly over the outstretched hands of the Lancaster keeper. Annechino made six saves in preserving the tournament shutout.
The Smith Plumbing & Heating Bradford U15 Boys completed their travel season by winning the championship at the Gates soccer tournament. This caps a clean sweep of the season with the team also winning the Aim Cup Tournament and the Southern Tier league this year. Bradford started slowly with a 2-2 tie against West Seneca Wizards in their first game. Ian Grady and Isaiah Pingie had a goal, while Evan Schmidt had six saves in goal including a spectacular one-handed save late in the game to earn Bradford the tie.
In their second game they increased the tempo to defeat Williamson Wildcats 6-0. Ian Grady had four goals and an assist, Alex Marrone had one goal and four assists.
In the semi final they beat Cheektowaga Arsenal 6-1. The first half was close with Bradford leading 2-1 at halftime. However they took control in the second half to add four more goals. Ian Grady and Ryan Miller each had a hat trick, Alex Marrone provide three assists and Ian Grady and Matthew Franz each had an assist. Evan Schmidt had four saves in goal.
They met West Seneca Wizards again in the final, this time beating them 4-2 to be crowned champions. Bradford were down a goal after twenty minutes but fought back to level it before halftime. They dominated the second half adding three more goals. Ian Grady had another hat trick plus one assist, Alex Marrone had a goal and an assist, and Ryan Miller had one assist. Evan Schmidt had four saves in goal.
The Hoover Rental U15 Boys also rounded out their 2017 season by dropping all three game at the Gates Tournament in Rochester. In game one versus Cheektowaga Arsenal they lost 3-1. The lone goal came from a header by Gavin McGee assisted by Stephen Morgan.
In game two, the boys lost 6-0 to the Ken-Ton Sounders. Piscitelli was in goal and saved 13 shots. In their last game, they lost 2-0 to Williamson Wildcats. Piscitelli had eight saves between the pipes.
The Dallas Morris Drilling U13 Girls’ travel team (4-4-1, 0-6) finished its season with strong play and progression of its overall skill development. The team lost its first game 4-0 to Cobras FC Trabold. Morgan Maloney was in goal and credited with 10 saves.
In the second game, Bradford fell to Pittsford Mustangs GU13 Eagles 1-0 in a gritty, hard-fought match. Maloney had 16 saves.
In the final game, Bradford lost to Blue Flash FC 3-1. The U13 girls’ had a more consistent offensive display in the third game with the lone goal scored by Emily Shields.
The Sundhal Bradford United Boys U13 soccer team went off to a flying start, on Saturday afternoon, at the Gates Tournament in Rochester this past weekend, beating the hosts, Gates Metros, 4-0. In goal was Jaxon Faes and Jake Franz (second half) combining far the shutout. Goals came from Luke Abraham and Jaaron L’Esperance (three).
Saturday evening saw the team face a very tough team from Canada, Chantilly United. Bradford came off second best 7-2 with L’Esperance scoring both goals one on an assist by Adam Polito and one unassisted.
On Sunday morning Bradford played the New York State Cup finalists Chili Revolution falling 5-1 with again L’Esperance scoring the goal with an assist from Adam Polito.
The Kessel Construction U18B (8-0-2 league; 12-2-3 overall) team had an impressive showing against the strongest competition they faced all year. In the first game versus Gates Metro the 18 Boys got things started early with a goal from Alex Kelly on an excellent cross from Colin Archibald. Shortly before halftime they pushed the lead to 2-0 on a great half volley finish from Colton Swanson coming off a quick distribution from Goalkeeper Conner Golley. In the second half, the lead was stretched to 3-0 on an unassisted goal from Archibald. The team shut down Gates the rest of the way to claim the 3-0 win.
Less than two hours later the 18 Boys were back on the field, this time to take on a highly skilled Academy level team from Mississauga Canada. This game was highlighted by a “bend but don’t break” defensive effort. The defense delivered again, keeping a second straight clean sheet and claiming the 1-0 win.
Sunday morning’s semi-final pitted the 18 Boys versus another Canadian Academy Team from Ontario. The teams traded chances without a goal until the mid point of the second half when Bradford’s Swanson struck again. Brent Kennedy fired a long throw into the box targeting the head of Cadyn Sutherland. Sutherland skipped the ball onto a waiting Swanson who half volleyed the ball into the upper corner for the game winner.
The final pitted Bradford against Chili FC, one of New York State’s top teams in this year’s State Cup. Chili opened the scoring when they found the Bradford net for the first time all weekend, scoring an early first half goal. Bradford tied the contest just a few minutes later on a goal by Mike Bosworth coming of a corner kick from Archibald. Chili tested the Bradford defense the rest of the half and finally broke through, sending the score to 2-1 at halftime.
Injury and fatigue, coupled with the skill and speed of the Chili team were the story of the second half. Bradford conceded two more goals, losing 4-1 in the tournament finals.
