Will North upsets Clarence

Williamsville North can lay claim to the biggest win of the boys soccer season so far, handing Clarence a 3-2 loss in ECIC I. The Red Devils entered Friday’s game ranked No. 2 in New York State in Class AA and No. 1 in the Western New York large school coaches poll. Clarence was 23-1 last season with its only loss coming in the state finals.

“Our team plays with a lot heart. We never stopped pressuring them,” said North coach Lee Ferenc. “We battle each other every year. They’re our biggest rival.”

Clarence took a 1-0 lead with 40 seconds left in the first half. North answered 30 seconds into the second half on a goal by Jason Harris. At the 53-minute mark, Matt Campana scored his first of two goals. His second came five minutes later.

“I can’t remember the last time they gave up three goals. Usually it’s 1-0, 2-1. It’s always a close battle. They’re a tough team. They’ve got a little more size than we do,” said Ferenc.

Clarence falls to 8-2 while North moves to 7-3. The win capped a big week for the Spartans, who beat state-ranked Lancaster on Wednesday.

Orchard Park fell out of this week’s large schools poll after a disappointing loss a week ago to Clarence. The Quakers used that as motivation in a 1-0 win over No. 3 Lancaster.

“We have a young team and I was happy to see them respond the way they did,” Quakers coach Josh Dannecker said. “This was our second time playing Lancaster this year and we were more physically prepared to play.”

Sophomore goalie Jordan Dilapo earned the shutout for the Quakers (6-3, 6-2), while Matt Hamister scored his team-leading 11th goal late in the first half for the game’s only score.

Tyler Friess and Barry Hunt each scored in the first half as host East Aurora picked up a homecoming win against Holland, 2-1.

Jon Klein recorded his seventh shutout as No. 6 large school Cheektowaga blanked Amherst, 3-0, in ECIC III. Pablo Ordonez scored twice as the Warriors moved to 10-0-2 overall.

Rivals EA-Iroquois girls tie

In a game between crosstown rivals, the East Aurora and Iroquois girls soccer teams played to a 1-1 tie. East Aurora’s Erin Holbrook scored in the first half while Iroquois scored in the second. The coaches on both sides agreed not to play an overtime period. The Blue Devils (9-1-2) were playing without three injured starters.

EA coach Tom Cashmore said it was a good game on both sides. “It’s a crosstown rivalry, the two teams know each other. It was good for both teams. The tie wasn’t such a bad thing,” he said.

Jenna Raepple had two goals and an assist as No. 3 large school Grand Island moved to 10-0 in the Niagara Frontier League with a 6-1 win over Lockport. Jordan Dudish, Sara McNulty, Liz Lorence and Kristin Wegrzyn had single goals for the Vikings, who have four league games left.

Another shutout for Pioneer

The Pioneer field hockey team won its sixth game out of seven by shutout, 5-0, over East Aurora. Alicia Williams had three goals, giving her six for the season, and Katelyn Loudsburg earned her sixth shutout.

The Panthers (7-5-1) have benefited from a defense that includes seniors at all three midfield and all three defender positions. Coach Jana Landahl said her team has played its best against the ECIC’s strongest teams. She pointed to the 0-0 tie against Amherst and the 1-0 setback to Williamsville North. “We had some really exceptional games that turned out to be losses. They really stepped up,” she said.

A program that won only three games all last season picked up No. 5 as Williamsville East edged West Seneca West, 3-2, in overtime. Sophomore Catherine Krok scored the game-winner seven minutes into OT. Sam Frank scored two goals in regulation for the Flames (5-5-1).

First-year coach Erin Coyne has led the Flames’ resurgence. Friday’s win came against a familiar foe, W. S. West coach Kelly Ruchalski. The pair were teammates on Empire State Games and played against each other in high school and college.

Lockport shares first place

Lockport pulled into a three-way tie for first place in Niagara Frontier League boys volleyball with a five-set win over Kenmore West. Michael Kojsza had 16 kills and Sean Smith added 12 for the Lions, who are tied with Grand Island and Kenmore West at 7-2 in the NFL.

“In the fifth set, we really held our composure,” Lions coach Chris Niver said. “We didn’t let a stressful situation get to us.”

EA girls swimmers 6-0

The East Aurora girls swimming team moved to 6-0 in ECIC IV with a 120-47 homecoming win over visiting JFK. Seventh grader Erin O’Brien won the diving to improve her record to 5-1. Freshman Eileen Converse won the 50-yard free. Senior Allie Switzer qualified for the upcoming Section VI championship in the butterfly in 1:08.08.

Clarence moved to 6-0 in ECIC I beating Orchard Park, 118-68. Eighth grader Dina Rommel qualified for the state meet in the 100 free in 55.47.

Frontier volleyball nets win

The Frontier and Lancaster girls volleyball teams never fail to deliver when they get together. Rachel Stoklosa had 12 kills as the Falcons outlasted ECIC I rival Lancaster in five games. Frontier won the first two games before the Redskins roared back.