Returning All-WNYers

Of the six returning All-Western New York players, four are from the Niagara Frontier league.

Grand Island will be in contention for the Section VI Class A title with a pair of returning first-teamers. The Vikings are coming off a 17-1-1, 14-0 season.

Senior Jenna Raepple is a two-time All-WNY pick as well as a first team All-State player. Last year she led the NFL in scoring with 25 goals and 19 assists. "She does a phenomenal job of spreading it around and setting people up," said coach Dave Bowman. "She's a blast to watch."

"Last year we were playing Niagara Falls. She scored two goals and then I started giving names to her. This is not meant to be an insult to Niagara Falls, but literally two minutes later that [other] girl had a goal. And then I'd give her another name. Jenna could have scored on every one of those herself. She is definitely one of the best players we've ever had."

Jeannie Taylor of the Vikings is another two-time All-WNY pick and was fourth team All-State. With her speed, Taylor is tough to beat. She's also the undeniable leader of the defense.

GI started the season with a big road win over Aquinas.

Jenna Panepinto of Kenmore West made All-WNY and was the NFL Player of the Year last year as a sophomore. ... Senior Meaghan Lipinoga of North Tonawanda has been starting since eighth grade. She's verbally committed to Canisius. ... Senior midfielder Courtney Mann of Frontier has verbally committed to the University at Buffalo. ... Junior Zoe Jackson-Gibson of Nichols was an All-WNY defender as a sophomore.

Defending champions

CLASS AA: Clarence looks to build around a core of seniors: ECIC I all-star Laura Scalzi, midfield leader Tori Nappo and center of the defense Bri Cimato.

CLASS B: East Aurora has won three Section VI titles in a row, one in Class A and the last two in Class B. The Blue Devils are back in Class A, joining mainstays Williamsville East and GI.

East Aurora returns Emma Bracken, second team All-WNY and an ECIC all-star. Nicole Mason returns to the midfield as three-year starter and captain.

CLASS C: Frewsburg carried the torch for Section VI last year as the only team to advance out of the Far West Regionals. The Bears lost a 1-0 heartbreaker in the state semifinals to III-Sauquoit Valley to finish 21-3-1.

A returning CCAA II all-star and last year's scoring leader is Emily Foy. Sophomore Shawna Reymond is hard-working and coachable and Kayla Johnson will be a three-year starter on defense.

CLASS D: Few can match the success of Maple Grove. The Red Dragons won the Section VI Class D title the last two years, and Class C two years prior. Seniors Sarah Hover and Julia Morgan are going for sectional patch No. 5 after being moved up as eight graders. "It's kind of funny because they don't realize how hard it is to get one [patch]," said coach Mike Burr.

Maple Grove moves back into Class C. Junior Molly Beaton,second team all-state last year, is another top talent on this well-rounded, unselfish team.

MSGR. MARTIN: Nichols is the three-time defending large school champion of the Monsignor Martin Association. The Vikings are chasing title No. 4 with seven returning starters, four of whom were All-Catholic picks. They started this season winning the Clarence Tournament.

"I'm very impressed with the quality of kid and quality of athlete," said Larry Desautels, the Vikings' coach of 32 years. "We're still going to be young, but these kids can play, they can move the ball, they play well together and they get it."

Earning All-Catholic after last year's 18-3 campaign were sisters Maya and Zoe Jackson-Gibson, Haley Welch and Catherine Williams.

Other returning starters are sweeper Helena Galvin, sophomore midfielder Haley Scamurra and defender Bethany Bisone.

Sophomore midfielder Lauren Randaccio has a nice touch with the ball. Freshman Rachel Grampp has earned the starting spot in goal.

Sophomore Mayha Krouse of Nardin, a two-year starter, is an up-and-coming player in Monsignor Martin league.

 St. Mary's looks to extend to five its streak of Monsignor Martin small school with three returning All-Catholic picks -- Raenn Stilwell, last year's scoring leader with 23 goals, as well as junior Samantha Pfohl and senior Maria Rosati.

Immaculata senior Sarah Harris and junior Sydney Godwin are team captains who lead by example.

They are joined in the back with last season's Msgr. Martin South league MVP Madison Kiernan, a three-year keeper.

ECIC beat

Hamburg players accomplish a lot on and off the field. The team raised over $2,000 for the American Heart Association's "Go Red" program. Since 2007 they've came through with more than $6,000 for Women's Health Initatives.

On the turf the Bulldogs return ECIC II all-star Mallory Hojnacki, who never left the field last year. Marissa Lombard is also coming off an all-star season after leading the team in scoring. Junior Kaelyn Gamel finished third on the team in scoring despite missing half the season with a broken collarbone.

Williamsville North, the defending ECIC I champion and last year's Class AA finalists, are a top defending team Jenny Piaggione, Megan Kerr, Robin Kennery and Katelyn Carpenter.

Iroquois, trying to improve and built off last year's close season-ending loss to Williamsville East, returns ECIC II all-star Amie Folaron, junior goalie Jenn Schintzius and forward Jen Colvin.

Jamestown looks to be in every game because it returns its top two scorers from last year, sophomore Rachel Oelbracht and senior Nicole Mahoney. Junior Alex Hoaglund is a three-year starter who is solid in the back.

Senior captain Danielle Williams is the go-to player from West Seneca West. Rival West Seneca East counters with three-year starters junior Kayleigh Wasielewski and freshman Casey Ruberto. East meets West? Find out.

Senior Jacquelyn Fricano has been a varsity starter for Lake Shore since eighth grade.

Depew looks to build off the momentum from last season. The Wildcats won ECIC III, reached the Class B final and finished 17-2-1. Kim Obermeier is a four-year starter and a two-time ECIC

III all-star and she's only a junior. Junior Sarah Turner is a four-year starter who will use her passing ability to set up Obermeier with scoring opportunities.

Starpoint junior Kristi Delabio was the second-leading in Section VI last year. She's joined by senior Marissa Chaffee, a five-year starter and two-time ECIC III pick. Senior Ashley Wallace begins her fourth season as a starter.

Starpoint moves from ECIC III to ECIC II while Lake Shore goes from ECIC II to ECIC III.

JFK graduated 12, but does return Janet Kacprowicz, a four-year starter.

Class C finalist Holland will get plenty of production from senior Taylor Vanderbush, second on last year's team in scoring and assists while earning ECIC IV all-star honors. Candis Kapuscinski was third on the team in scoring and assists last year as a sophomore.

Springville has a dynamic scoring combination for years to come with Alena and Tia Woodarek, the top two scorers on the team last year as eighth graders. Ashley Nesselbush returns as an anchor of the defense and a three-year starter.

Fifth-year player and leading scorer Kaitlyn Moore returns for Tonawanda, along with Kasey Weaver, who is coming off ACL surgery.

Eden builds around senior Danielle Lyndsley, last year's leading

scorer. Gabi Villar is fast and aggressive and keeper Cassie Smythe returns from ACL surgery.

Amanda Mesi and Manal Elbanna are three-year starters for Lackawanna.

Pioneer's Kiley Titus is a four-year starter with 43 varsity goals while Haley Haggerty is a three-time ECIC all-star.

Corner kicks

Approximately 45 teams in Section VI are participating in the Section VI Kicks Cancer/Pink the Field fundraiser on Sept. 27-Oct. 9. Proceeds from the sale of $10 pink T-shirts will benefit Roswell Park.

Christian Central Academy outscored opponents, 93-35, last year in 20 games. Junior Rachel Cook has 79 goals in her first two varsity season. The Crusaders' 3-0 record includes the title of the Immaculata Tournament.

Wilson, last year's Niagara-Orleans League champions, returning league scoring champion Molly Curry and another scoring threat Jessica Foster.

mmonnin@buffnews.comnull