Medina girls win soccer season opener

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 August 2014 at 12:00 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina goalie Jamie Boyce goes high to stop an Oakfield-Alabama penalty kick opportunity, a key play which helped spark the Mustangs to a 3-1 win this afternoon.

A pair of unanswered second half goals powered Medina to a 3-1 victory over host Oakfield-Alabama this afternoon in a non league season opening girls soccer game.

The game was tied at 1-1 at the half and Medina junior goalie Jamie Boyce kept the contest deadlocked with a big save on a Oakfield-Alabama penalty kick opportunity three minutes into the second half.

Sparked by that big stop, the Medina offense netted what proved to be the game winning goal less than five minutes later when sophomore Martha Gardner scored on a breakaway off an assist from sophomore Kyla Leno.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Martha Gardner, who scored what proved to be the game winning goal, drives the ball up field against Oakfield-Alabama.

The Mustangs later added an insurance goal when freshman Destiny Satkowski scored with eight minutes remaining.

Satkowski also scored Medina’s lone first half goal.

“That’s a good way to start the season. It was a tight game for a half but our hard work and conditioning really made the difference,” said Medina Coach Mike Lepkyj. “It’s definitely nice to see their conditioning pay off and the chemistry coming together.”

The Mustangs will next host Roy-Hart at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Niagara-Orleans League opener.