6/3/09 - After last week's challenging game against the Penfield Strikers Avalanche, we were all looking forward to tonight's game against the Chili Cheeteahs. Both players and parents knew that this would be the first real test of our girls. The Cheetahs were Division 1 last year and finished in third place. Throughout the entire game our Falcons controled the ball longer than Chili and had more scoring opportunities. Unfortunately for RH, the Cheetahs took advantage of the opportunities that they had. The Falcons scored first in the 12th minute on a corner kick from Taylor VanCheri that was controlled by Sam Brill who passed it accross to Danna Watts who scored giving the Falcons a 1-0 lead. This lead was short lived as seconds later the Cheetahs took the kick off down the left side and scored on our unprepared Falcons. Chili would score once more in the first half on a miscomunication between defense and goalie in the 28th minute. As the second half started, RH tried very hard to score, having shots go wide or hit the crossbar but couldn't seem to find the goal. Meanwhile, Chili used their speedy forwards to take the ball down the side and cross the ball to the middle for two additional goals in the 42nd and 51st minutes winning the game 4-1.

 Player of the Game:

5/27/09 - As the season begins, our Falcons find themselves in Division 1. Moved up from Division 2 with them were the Livonia Orange Crush and the Penfield Strikers Avalanche. Many (if not all of you) will remember the Penfield Strikers. A physical and aggressive team with plenty of tricks. As the game began, it was apparent that our girls did not forget last years games either. RH was fast to the ball and had more scoring opportunities than the Avalanche. Fortunately and unfortunately, both teams were better on defense than they were on offense and the game ended in a 0-0 tie. Not bad for a first showing in Division 1.

 Player of the Game: Noelle Davis

3/27/09 - This was the Falcons last game of the Winter League at TSE. They were in fifth place with an outside chance of making the playoffs. In fourth place was the Gates Metros who had to face the Third place Greece Bucs Red who had not lost a game. RH's opponents, the Livonia Orange Crush, were in second place behind the undefeated Spencerport Blazers. Both Spencerport and Livonia are in Division 1. As the game started, it was clear that our Falcons were not ready. In the 5th minute, Livonia penetrated our defenses and scored their first goal. This seemed to spark RH and two minutes later, Taylor VanCheri passed the ball ahead to MaryAnn Yandle who, with a defender close behind, stayed focused and blasted a shot to the far post to even the game. Momentum was on our side now. The Falcons had found some passion and made some moves to take control of this game. But Livonia did not roll over. Instead they squelched thr RH attacks and set up their own. In the 16th minute they would score again. Only one goal down, our Falcons tried to mount an attack but were turn away and with two minutes left in the first half saw the Orange Crush score again. First half score 1-3 in favor of Livonia. The second half was well fought but frustration had settled into our Falcons as they played "kick and run" with Livonia. No additional goals were scored.

 (After Note: The Gates Metros beat the Greece Bucs Red 5-2, handing them their first loss and securing fourth place)

2/27/09 - The Falcons prepared for their first match since being named to the RDYSL First Division, and as the fates so often have it, that match would be against the undisputed Queen of the GU-12 Jungle, the powerful Spencerport Blazers.  Our girls played the Blazers tough in their initial winter league match up, losing 3-1 after being tied at the half.  That game found Spencerport at less than full strength; four of their best players were at an out-of-town tournament with Empire USA.  Tonight; their best were taking the field.

The match started out as a back-and-forth affair; the ball being boomed in and out by strong legged defenders.  In the fourth minute Taylor Stewart blasted a kick away from our goal and towards a lightly defended Mary Ann Yandle, who picked the rock up on the run, shook free of the defender, and slammed a shot past the Spencerport goalie.  1-0, RH.  Maybe their first lead ever against this team!   The Blazers tried to even the score but stout defense and goalkeeping kept them off the board.   The teams battled on even terms until the 17^th minute when Alex Robbins-Jackson worked the ball through to Heather Billings, who turned and hit the far side of the goal.  2-0, RH; the Spencerport crowd was murmuring nervously.  The RH parents were beginning to ask each other “Can this be happening?”  The Blazers settled everyone down just two minutes later when #29 got the ball in front of the goal towards the right and buried a shot in the left corner past a diving goalie.  Spencerport squeezed tighter over the last 6 minutes of the half but were repeatedly frustrated by Taylor, Riley, Danielle and the rest of the RH defense.  RH had a free kick granted with just a few seconds left but couldn’t get a shot off…that missed opportunity would later come back to haunt them.  The half ended 2-1 in favor of the good girls.

The RH crowd went wild in the 27^th minute as the ball popped out of a group in front of the Spencerport goal towards Alex and a defender.  Together they charged up the left side; the keeper came out to meet them, dived for the ball and missed; Alex muscled through her defender and scored, 3-1 RH!  The crowd was nervous; one set of parents afraid their team might lose, another daring to hope theirs might win.  The Spencerport coach exhorted his team for the next 10 minutes but to no avail as RH grimly turned away assault after assault on their goal until in the 38^th minute #29 did it again, weaving thru traffic with the ball and crossing a shot into the net.  RH still led, 3-2, but you could see our girls getting tired.  From that point on the Falcons were almost always on defense without another real scoring chance.  In the 43^rd minute Spencerport scored off a corner kick and it was a new match!  A very tense scoreless six minutes followed but unfortunately for RH, with a minute left, the Blazers worked the ball down the sideline, and had it kicked out by RH for a corner.  The corner was drilled in, Danielle blocked the shot…but the follow up went past her as Spencerport took the lead with just seconds to play.  RH tried valiantly to get a shot off afterwards but quickly ran out of time and lost, 4-3.  But hey, if you ask me, the RH girls were the big winners tonight.  They went toe-to-toe with the baddest team around and scared the heck out of ‘em.  Makes you feel a bit better about Division 1…GREAT JOB, FALCONS!

12/5/08 - The Greece Storm was humbled on Friday night.  Missing 3 girls from our Starting team, the Rush Henrietta girls played control soccer from the opening whistle.  Our team played dominating soccer to an over matched Storm team that was smaller and slower. The RH girls moved and passed the ball continually with some brilliant passing combinations, and a barrage of shots that did not end until the final whistle. Outstanding lay off passing and through balls confounded the Stormers, spreading the field wide and then consolidating to the inside with crossing passes that found their mark time and again.  Our starting keeper was out ill, so was our backup, and noticeably absent was  play making Tori, absent as well.  Filling in the goal duties were Julie Dana, and Dana Watts each playing inspired soccer and doing a fine job in goal.  Players were moved from offense to defense, and the girls responded surprising well.  A stand out on offense and defense was Reilly.  She made exceptional passes, had some outstanding shots on goal and playing center full back stopped any attack that may have come her way.  Another really nice surprise came with the addition of Victoria to our offensive line.  Her uncanny knack for putting the ball in the back of the goal, netted her the first hat trick we can remember in quite some time. She just might have found her way to the front this season.   Seven girls accounted for a total of ten goals, with some other shots that hit the post and some nice saves from the storm keeper. Not much she could do on a night like Friday. The final score was 10-0. (Goals scored: at 3:02 by Victoria Neighbour (assist by Taylor VanCheri), at 5:30 by Taylor VanCheri, at 16:00 Dana Watts, at 18:30 Danna Watts (assisted by Alexandra Robbins-Jackson and Leanna Donsky), at 22:45 Destinee Johnson (assist by Heather Billings), at 29:00 Taylor VanCheri (off a corner kick by Noelle Davis), at 33:40 Victoria Neighbour (assist by Noelle Davis), at 34:30 Victoria Neighbour, at 42:00 Alexandra Robbins-Jackson and at 48:00 Heather Billings).

(My thanks to Kurt Yandle and Dave Neighbour for this game summary)