High School Extra News

ECIC/NFL Challenge kicks off

Williamsville South edged North Tonawanda, 1-0, in Friday's opening round of the boys soccer Coaches vs. Cancer ECIC/NFL Challenge at Sweet Home.

Nick Helmick scored the game's lone goal and goalkeeper Alex Podgorsak had five saves to earn the shutout for South (1-0). Helmick scored 27 minutes into first half, when a a corner kick went to Graham Taylor, and he crossed it to Helmick.

"We played pretty well in the first half, got the goal," said South coach Peter Sugg. "For 15 minutes in the second half they completely controlled play. We held them off and finished it off. It was a good way to start the season."

Starpoint blanked Niagara Falls, 3-0, as Chris Kuschuk had two goals and an assist and Ricky Mullen had the shutout.

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Hamburg jumped out to a two-goal lead and beat Kenmore West, 2- 1. Jason Persons and Felipe Cortez scored for the Bulldogs. West's goal came with 12 minutes remaining in the game thanks to Nate Anastasia.

"We played well defensively all game, but they put some pressure on us in the second half, and we definitely had to hang on to win," said Hamburg coach Jim Harrigan.

Frank Valentie's goal 40 seconds into the game held up as Lewiston-Porter edged host Sweet Home, 1-0. Valentie picked up the ball after it hit a Sweet Home defender and scored into the corner of the net.

John Cordaro scored twice for Williamsville North in a 4-1 win over Kenmore East.

All of the game's scoring took place in the second half as Williamsville East downed Niagara-Wheatfield, 3-1.

Six more games are on tap today.

Each team plays two games with two points awarded for a win and one for a tie. After the 10 games are complete, the league with the most points wins. An MVP and 11 players will be selected to an all- tournament team. The ECIC won last year's Challenge, 10-7.

The 24 officials have donated their game fees to either the Roswell Park Cancer Institute or the Tom Mingle Memorial Scholarship fund. The officials will select one player to receive the Officials Sportsmanship Award. There will be a $1 admission charge. Volunteers will also be accepting donations.

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Soccer teams advance in Durick

West Seneca West and Wilson earned berths in today's final of the sixth annual Dan Durick Memorial boys soccer tournament.

Zach Thomas and Ty Verrastro had three goals each for the Indians (1-0) as they beat Tonawanda, 7-1, at Clint Small Stadium. Wilson advanced with a 2-1 win over Frontier in a penalty kick shootout. West is the two-time defending champion.

In September 2005 the tournament was renamed in memory of Durick. He played youth soccer in Tonawanda and played junior varsity in the fall of 2004 as an eighth-grader. On May 31, 2005, he died due to a immune system disorder. He was 14 years old.

West Seneca East will play for the title of the Byron-Bergen Tournament after beating the hosts, 2-1. The Trojans play Batavia in the final at 6:30 p.m.

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Girls soccer teams advance

Clarence and Nichols will play for today's title of the Clarence Boosters Girls Soccer Tournament. The host Red Devils beat Nardin, 3-0, in the four-teReplica Watches
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