HCS Girls Honor Stephanie Putney; Lisbon To Open At Tourney Tonight
HEUVELTON - The Heuvelton Central School Family lost a very important member with the July passing of Stephanie Putney, a longtime physical education instructor, athletic director and coach.
The Heuvelton Girls Varsity Soccer team will be dedicating this season as a remembrance of what Stephanie Putney stood for... being a true sport, being a student-athlete and playing the game to the best of your ability.
"Our school dealt with a very tough loss this summer when a very good person passed away in Stephanie (Putney). We will be wearing a patch in Stephanie Putney's memory on our uniforms, to remember what she did, not only for Heuvelton Athletes, but for all of the athletes, boys and girls, in our section," said HCS Coach Gus Burns who will lead his team against Lisbon tonight at 6 p.m. in the OFA Preseason Tournament.
Coach Putney liked starting her teams with a challenge and the Lady Bulldogs did that on Saturday playing to a 1-1 tie with reigning Section 10 Class D Champion Chateaugay at SUNY Canton.
"We thought it would be good to get a tough game to start the season out," said Burns. "And Chateaugay was that start."
Sophomore Abbey Basford scored the lone HCS goal from Danielle Tani in the first half.
"We played solid in the first half but in the first few minutes of the second half we just came out flat and they scored. It was definitely a good test for us before the OFA Tournament on Monday (tonight)," noted Coach Burns who is looking to replace two All-NAC selections in NAC West Defensive MVP Sam Weaver and Cheyenne Martin.
Linsay Tennant returns as the Bulldogs leading scorer in 2009 with 11 goals. Tennant serves as a tri-captain with Danielle Tani (forward-defense) and Sarah Sloan (midfielder). Also providing senior leadership will be Jenna Lashua (defense), Morgan McAdam (forward) and Kaitlyn Pierce (midfielder).
Also returning are sophomores Abbey Basford (forward-defense), Sanna Jaquith (goalie) and Ashlyn Piercey (midfielder) and juniors Aliza Armstrong (midfielder), Shastin Crobar (midfielder, Kelli Hebert (defense), Shicara Legault (defense) and Emilie Ross (forward 8 goals).
"We have some new young players that are going to be exciting to watch and will make an impact for our team right away in freshmen Logan Tallman (striker), Lexi Weidner (midfielder) and Maddie St-Pierre (defense) and sophomores Elizabeth Schneller (midfielder-forward) and Alizabeth Wing (forward)," said Coach Burns.
"In order for our continued success in Class D we need to be able to get our young new players up to speed at the Varsity Level. If we are able to do that we should have a pretty good season,"
Lisbon: First year coach Scott Richardson, an outstanding goalie who helped Lisbon reach the New York State Class D Elite 8 in 1994, strives for his team to better last year's 7-7-3 record.
"This year we are changing directions for the team as far as the style of play. We will have many girls playing positions they've never played before and that will mean the team is building," said Richardson.
The Knights leading scorer senior Taylor Armstrong (10 goals) and senior goalie Brianna Teele return but LCS must replace several outstanding players.
Looking to replenish the Knights' lineup are: Allison Akins (Jr.), Taylor Amo (Sr), Sarah Bodwell (Jr), Patricia Crossett (Sr.), Allison Crowley (Jr), Mackenzie Fields (Sr.), Colleen Hammond (Jr), Jaclyn Moore (Sr.), Aleashia Parmeter (Sr.), Heather Richards (Sr.), Gabby Walker (Soph), and Melissa Wheeler (Sr.),
Newcomers are: Megan Barney (sophomore), Maeve Bowdish (Fr), Beth Crowley (Fr), Emily Dishaw (Soph), Shelby Dishaw (Soph), Chelsea Duprey (Soph), Jackie Sovie (Fr), Holly Williams (Fr), Hanna Rchardson (F.), and Holly Williams (Fr). "Our team strengths are a core of girls who are natural athletes with a positive and encouraging outlook toward each other and the upcoming season. They realize they all have a role and all are equally important.," said Richardson. "The girls are excited about the challenges this year.
Edwards-Knox: First year coach Patty Matthews-Taylor is no stranger to the NAC West League. Matthews moves over to the Cougar program after coaching Hermon-DeKalb's varsity for several seasons.
Matthews-Taylor who inherits a good core of players from last year's coach Becky Salego.
"We are a little young but we have a good player in Kamrie Dandrow is looking to play at the next level. She worked hard this summer in the FC Freeze program but she'll be a marked girl this season so we're going to need players to step up around her," said Matthews-Taylor.
Dandrow, a senior striker, scored just 10 goals in eight games last season due to a re-occurring knee injury. Abby Campbell, a senior midfielder, and Ashley Davison, a senior forward, recorded six and three goals in 2009. Sarah Manning (midfielder), Kelly Hendericks (fullback(, and Kaylee Hartley (fullback) round out the senior class.
Mercedes Mackin (midfielder), Jasamine Reese (fullback), Lateia Gravett (fullback), Veronica White (midfielder), Janna Fountain (midfielder), Kylie Averill (fullback), Claire Davis (line), and Madison Tresidder (fullback) are solid junior veterans.
Newcomers are Kacey Stein (Jr. line), Katie Hale (Soph. goalie), Harley LeBarge (Freshman Line), Jessey Parker (Fr. halfback), and Katie Rowe (Fr. Forward).
