City Honors is still perfect

It’s a streak that is not only dear to City Honors’ girls volleyball team but one that is respected within its own program. The Centaurs have never lost a set or a match in Buffalo Public Schools league play.

City Honors remained perfect Thursday, as the Centaurs began their 24th season of league play by beating Grover Cleveland, 25-5, 25-16, 25-14.

City Honors has on 778 straight sets. “We certainly take pride in it,” coach Deborah Matos said. “We go into every season respecting every team in our league. Buffalo Public Schools teams are getting better. We go in with a little bit of a target on our back. We go in respecting everyone. We take pride in it and it’s something you can’t take for granted.”

Junior Natalie Southard—one of eight returnees— had 11 kills and four aces for last year’s Section VI Class C runner-up. Senior Carly Daniel added seven kills for the Centaurs, who finished third last weekend at the Burnt Hills Tournament near Albany. City Honors will be among the local powers participating in Saturday’s Sweet Home Tournament. Other tournament participants include defending Section VI Class AA champion Frontier, runner-up Lancaster and Orchard Park— which owns a pair of early- season wins over both Frontier and Lancaster.

Elsewhere, Hutch-Tech— one of the Buffalo schools looking to end City Honors’ dominant reign—opened with a convincing three-set win over Lafayette, while Riverside and South Park— other potential threats according to Matos— also opened with straight-set triumphs.

Clarence boys finish tough week

Clarence’s boys soccer team earned some much-needed rest and relaxation by earning a 2-1 overtime win over visiting Lancaster.

Joe Stigelmeier scored the game-winner two minutes into overtime off a Derek Maier assist. The Red Devils opened a key week of ECIC I play Tuesday by beating Williamsville North, 2-0, before improving to 6-0 with Thursday’s win.

“It’s a tough week for us. Coming out 2-0 against those guys is what we were wishing for,” Mike Silverstein said.

Maier scored for Clarence in the first half, while Lancaster’s P. J. Heist tied it four minutes into the second half. Hunter Hein finished with seven saves for Clarence.

Iroquois was another team that worked overtime to experience that winning feeling as the Chiefs earned an ECIC II triumph over West Seneca East, 2-1. Shawn Colvin’s second goal of the game and fourth of the season at seven minutes of the extra period off a goal-mouth scrum was the game-winner.

In ECIC III, Amherst beat Pioneer in overtime, 3-2. Paul Borema scored the game-winner off a rush up the left wing. Ted Tiftickjian scored the tying goal for Amherst, which trailed, 2-1, at halftime.

Etcetera

In ECIC III girls soccer, Depew earned a measure of revenge against Amherst, beating the Tigers in overtime, 3-2. Kim Obermeier scored three goals for Depew, which lost earlier this season to Amherst, 7-0. Winning goalie Stephanie Peterson finished with 12 saves.

In ECIC III boys volleyball, Cheektowaga beat East Aurora in four sets, as Sean Walters led the Warriors with eight kills, while Ryan Carr finished with 38 assists in the win.

Kicking it for good cause

Monday’s boys soccer matchup of St. Joe’s at St. Francis should be a great one on the field —and it should be a great night no matter how the game ends up. The 7 p. m. game is part of St. Francis’ dedication of their season to “Kicks Against Breast Cancer.” The game is part of an American soccer initiative to raise money to help find a cure for breast cancer and help women living with cancer survive and thrive. Throughout the season, St. Francis players will wear a pink patch on their left shoulder to show support. A pink ball will be used during Monday’s game.