Vikings Reload then Repeat

After graduating two Division-I players, including the state all-time record holder, many thought the Grand Island girls’ soccer program would take a dip in 2017.

But the new cast of Vikings proved to be just as dominate this season posting a 19-1 record and winning a second-straight sectional title.

“Everyone for the longest time thought that we were (Madisyn) Pezzino and (Marcy) Barberic,” Grand Island head coach Dave Bowman said. “I told the team before the season that, ‘we can do this again but we have to do it as a team.’ All 20 girls have a role to play. Everyone is stepping and can strike at any time.”

Tuesday night it was sophomore Abigail Blair who stepped up. She lead the way with two goals and an assist in the Vikings’ 5-1 win over the Pioneer Panthers in the Section VI Class A Championship game.

“She’s one of the hardest workers we have,” Bowman said. “You can see it at any game or practice. She works her butt off and never takes a play off. She goes after everything. That’s who she is.”

Blair had her first chance of the night in the fourth minute when she took a shot from 12 yards, but Pioneer goalkeeper Jasmine Sims contained the chance.

The sophomore got another opportunity on net when she fired one from 15 yards out, Sims juggled it before making the save.

Blair finally converted in the 12′ when she put home a shot from 12 yards out to give Grand Island the lead.

The forward continued her aggressive play and 12 minutes later found Ana Mascaro on the cross who headed it in for the goal.

The Vikings controlled much of the first half outshooting Pioneer 8-2 and had a 2-0 lead.

But the Class A2 champion Panthers weren’t going away easy.

They got back into the game early in the second half as sophomore Ashley Bliss knocked the ball in the open net after GI goalkeeper Sarah Bykowicz tried to rush up and take the ball away from her.

It was the first goal scored on Grand Island after nine shutouts.

Instead of dwelling under the mistake or crumbling under adversity the Vikings used it as motivation to work harder for the rest of the game.

“It started a fire under us and we realized we need get our stuff together,” Blair said. “Then we took it to Pioneer.”

That fire quickly got Blair back into scoring position as she once again found herself around the ball. The forward managed to deflect in a shot from Jordan Pachla to extend the Vikings’ lead to 3-1 in the 61′.

The flames burned the hottest in the 71′ minute as Mascaro and junior Sarah Berlinger both scored to put the game away for Grand Island.

Bykowicz redeemed herself a few minutes later stopping the Pioneer penalty kick try that she had to face twice since a Viking defender encroached on the first attempt.

According to head coach Frank Asquith the Panthers got off to a slow start and against a team like Grand Island it is difficult to recover from that.

“We weren’t set like we wanted to begin the game,” Asquith said. “Grand Island is a good team. I was proud of our surge in the second half, but we couldn’t maintain that.”

Missing for Pioneer was senior Meghan Root who led the team with 45 goals this season.

“She’s one of our top scorers and they rally around her,” Asquith said.

Root is part of an experienced senior class for the Panthers.

“Many of them have been with me since eighth grade,” Asquith said. “This group has over 70 wins, four division championships and a sectional title. They’re an outstanding group both on and off the field.

Tuesday night marked the 12th sectional title for Grand Island since 1998.

Winning the section is an expectation for the program every year and Blair is proud to be a part of that tradition.

“Every year at tryouts coach tells us were a sectional winning team and if you don’t want to be committed to that then you’re not welcomed here,” Blair said. “It’s amazing to be a part of.”

The Vikings will face Section V champion Spencerport in the Far West Regionals on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Williamsville South.