Niagara Pioneer wins Odenbach Cup

Lewiston Porter Sentinel, June 23, 2007

The Niagara Pioneer F.C.’s U-16 girls travel soccer team won the title in the Odenbach Cup, played June 16 and 17 in West Seneca.

Saturday, the team defeated Ken-Ton 2-1 and then beat Lancaster on penalty kicks after playing to a 0-0 tie through regulation time. Sunday, Niagara Pioneer beat Wilson 2-0 to win the championship.

Goalkeeper Lindsay Carr was named the team’s most valuable player for the tourney.

This is the second recent tournament the Niagara Pioneer U-16 girls have won. In early May, the team won the Akron Kick It First Tournament, defeating teams from Wilson, Leroy, Pittsburgh and Rochester without surrendering a single goal.

Niagara Pioneer is 3-0 in league play in the Buffalo and Western New York Junior Soccer League.

The team is anchored on defense by co-captain Emily Marin, Kristen Roemer, Shannon Roemer and KiKi Ventresca. Lindsay Carr and Nicole Mokhiber split the goalkeeping duties. In 10 games this year, the team has surrendered just three goals.

The offense is led by co-captain Stephanie Lozzi, Jenna VanDusen, Emma Besaw, and Christina Ventresca. Nicole Neri, Mary Gallo, Kalli Schultz, Julie Stuart, and Tracy Willmott play midfield.

The team is coached by Scott Marin and Craig Polley.