Blue Devils sweep Bulldogs In Double Header

There’s nothing like scoring the game winner under the lights.

Senior Garrett Kennerson scored what turned out to be the game-winning-goal with 1:56 left in the first half as Kenmore West edged Kenmore East, 2-1, in the boys’ edition of the Battle of Ken-Ton soccer double header that was played at Kenney Field, Friday night.

Earlier, freshman Molly Tobin notched the hat trick as the Lady Blue Devils blanked the Lady Bulldogs ,3-0, in the girls’ game.

“I’ve been dreaming about this since freshman year,” said Kennerson, who was set up by Jack Lussier.

“Under the lights. Game-winner. Senior year. This is why we play.”

Dalton Matre gave Ken-West the 1-0 lead off a pass from Moamal Flayh midway through the first half.

Anthony Stanz was solid in net for Ken-West, stopping nine of the 10 shots. Stanz was really on his game in the second half when the Bulldogs (3-2-2) were pressing hard in an effort to tie the game after Dylan Cunningham’s goal pulled the ‘Dogs within one with 13:50 left to play.

“That’s where I was proud of my senior leadership in the back,” said West head coach Todd Marquardt. “I saw them yelling at kids to get in line. That’s the first time that happened this year. You could feel the energy level and the adrenaline was going.”

Marquardt said he was especially proud of the job senior captain Anthony Seaman did marking Cunningham and limiting the scoring chances for the ‘Dogs top scoring threat.

Dropping five of their first six games, the Blue Devils are now on a roll, having won back-to-back games to lift their record to 3-3, 3-5.

“It’s a big win for us,” said Kennerson. “East beat teams that we lost to.”

Tobin scored all three of her goals in the first half, with the third coming on a penalty kick, as the Lady Blue Devils improved to 4-2 in the Niagara Frontier League, 5-2 overall.

“It’s great because we’re a team and I feel like I kinda had a big game and helped the team win,” Molly Tobin modestly stated.

But the win came at a heavy price as senior co-captains Hannah Gallivan and Grace Ferguson both sustained what appeared to be leg/knee injuries in the first half. Later in the game, senior defender Mary Tobin also had to exit the game with what looked to be a leg injury, though Tobin’s injury did not appear to be as severe as the other two.

Losing Gallivan and/or Ferguson for an extended amount of time would be a huge blow for the Lady Blue Devils.

“We prided ourselves this year that we had a lot of talent and we’re gonna find out how much talent we have now,” said Lady Blue Devils coach Clarence Boatman.

“All the girls have worked very hard all year and it’s been a struggle to get (all of the) girls into games. But it’s like one goes down, next man up. Hopefully we can handle it, but it ripped a big hole in us today.”

Holding a 2-0 lead when Ferguson came out of the game and with Gallivan already on the bench, it was senior Rachel Sefried who kept the team focused by instructing them not to do anything stupid fueled by the emotions of seeing teammates hurt.

Lady Bulldogs head coach Chris Robey, whose team is now 1-3 in league, 2-3 overall, said they simply had too many breakdowns on both ends throughout the game.

“I told every girl on my team we all have got to play a little bit better,” said Robey. “West played well in the first half. They took it to us and they capitalized on their opportunities. We played decent, we played good enough. Had five or six scoring opportunities and scored zero goals.”

Junior Milena Ellis, in her fourth start in net, picked up the shutout for the Blue Devils. She wasn’t tested often, but Ellis was more than up for the challenge when the Bulldogs put the ball on net.

“She’s unbelievable,” said Molly Tobin. “She’s been working so hard in practice. It just shows in net.”

Photo Credit: Jessica Brant