Falconer, NY – Kayla Lynn extended her streak to five consecutive games with at least one goal, as she found the back of the net three times in a 5-0 victory for the Falconer/Cassadaga Valley Golden Cougars over the rival Southwestern Trojans on Thursday night at Bill Race Field.
It did not take long for Kayla Lynn to find the back of the net, as she scored her first goal just under five minutes into the game to put Falconer/CV up 1-0. Lynn received a pass over the top and sprinted between two defenders and popped the ball in to give the Golden Cougars an early lead.
Falconer kept pushing, as just two minutes later, Julianna Roth received a pass and fired a shot as she fell that found the back of the net and gave the Golden Cougars a 2-0 lead at the 7:03 mark.
Southwestern would try to counter, firing off a few great high-danger chances, but Falconer freshman goalkeeper Ellyson Baglia was able to make key stops to keep the shutout alive.
Kayla Lynn would score her second of the game as she sprinted through the Trojans’ defensive line and fired a shot to give the Golden Cougars a 3-0 lead with under 18 minutes to go, and the hosts would keep that lead into halftime despite being outshot 5-4.
Southwestern tested Baglia early in the second half, but again, Baglia was able to make two key saves, including a diving save at the fifty-minute mark.
Julianna Roth would pick up her second of the night after a pass from Lynn to give the hosts a 4- 0 lead in the 63 rd minute. Six minutes later, Kayla Lynn sprinted through the Southwestern defense and fired a shot from the top of the box to complete the hat trick in the 69th minute.
“We played well as a team. We were attacking the ball excellently and we stuck to our gameplan and executed it perfectly,” said coach Brett Johnson. “Everyone on the field contributed in some way tonight. In our league, it’s very competitive, and having everyone work as one unit is extremely important.” For Kayla Lynn, the senior forward now has nine goals through the first six games, scoring in five consecutive. “Our gameplan was just to feed her the ball. Every time the ball is on her foot, she’s a threat to score,” remarked Johnson.
“We just did a good job of passing to the outside and creating space in the middle,” said Lynn.
“No one on our team is selfish, we all work together and mesh well together. We’re just trying to keep looking at it game-by-game and continue to get better.”
Lynn’s blistering speed stood out, as in addition to her three goals, she had several opportunities to strike at different points in the game. “Getting to capitalize on those chances does give me a lot of confidence, but it also puts confidence in the team because it means we’re playing well together and moving the ball,” she said.
The win lifts the Golden Cougars to an overall 4-2-0 record, and a 4-1-0 record in CCAA play.
Southwestern falls to a 2-3-0 record overall, with a 2-3-0 record in CCAA play.
Falconer/CV has a few days off before their next game, as they will visit their other cross-town rival, the Jamestown Red Raiders, on Tuesday afternoon at Strider Field at 4:30pm.
Southwestern hosts the same Red Raiders Saturday morning at 11am at Charles A Lawson Field.