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Jamestown defender Tyler Maloney, right, races to the ball with Lancaster’s Roland Wenk during Saturday’s Section VI Class AAA championship game at West Seneca West High School.
P-J photo by Scott Kindberg
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Jamestown keeper Noah Vrist (20) comes out to challenge a Lancaster scoring opportunity during Saturday’s Section VI Class AAA championship soccer game at West Senenca West High School.
P-J photo by Scott Kindberg
Jamestown defender Tyler Maloney, right, races to the ball with Lancaster’s Roland Wenk during Saturday’s Section VI Class AAA championship game at West Seneca West High School.
P-J photo by Scott Kindberg
WEST SENECA — Upon the completion of the boys Section VI Class AAA championship soccer game Saturday evening, the Jamestown players gathered for a team photo.
As their parents trained their cell phone cameras on the group, head coach Bonnie Schnars couldn’t help but feel sentimental.
Yes, the Red Raiders fell to Lancaster 4-0 at West Seneca West High School, but the journey they’ve been on for almost two months was one she’ll never forget. Because if there’s anyone who appreciates the roller-coaster history of Jamestown soccer, it’s Schnars.
A coach at her alma mater for the last 25 years, she was also a member of the first girls team the school ever had in 1992. And now, 31 years later, to see this boys squad become the first in school history to get to a sectional final left her feeling pretty proud.
“I’m sad for the ones who are graduating, because they wanted that blue (sectional) patch, but I’m also happy that they got to light the way, clear the path for the kids coming behind them,” Schnars said. “I think going into life it’s going to mean a lot to them to share this story with their kids someday.”
Jamestown keeper Noah Vrist (20) comes out to challenge a Lancaster scoring opportunity during Saturday’s Section VI Class AAA championship soccer game at West Senenca West High School.
P-J photo by Scott Kindberg
For the record, Brandon Nowak scored two goals, and Roland Wenk and Mitchell Nawojski added one apiece to send the Legends (11-4-3) into the Far West Regional against a Section V opponent this Saturday, back at WSW High School.
Jamestown ends its season 9-9-0.
“What a journey it’s been,” Schnars said.
But Lancaster dominated play from the start, using goals by Wenk and two by Nowak to take a 3-0 lead into halftime.
After the break, the Red Raiders had a few scoring chances, courtesy of a couple corner kicks and one direct boot, but none of them resulted in a goal as keeper Colin Roberts had a clean sheet.
“They’re a good team,” Schnars said of the Legends. “I think a lot of their kids play club soccer and play year-round. They play very positional soccer, they’re very aggressive, they’re just a great team. They have a great coach, they’re coached well and they have a lot of kids to draw from.”
Jamestown senior goaltender Noah Vrist, an exchange-student from Denmark, was kept plenty busy between the pipes where he made several outstanding saves.
“He had some big saves,” Schnars said. “That kid is a solid player, and Tyler Maloney (a senior defender) does not give up. Big things are coming for that kid.”
