Top: Oxford takes on V-VS in the first round of the Sherburne-Earlville Nigel Seddon Memorial Tournament. Left: S-E’s Ava O’Dell, Katrina White, and Kadyn Babcock pose for a photo with the runner-up plaque. Right: The S-E boys seniors pose for a photo with the runner-up plaque in the Seddon memorial tournament. (Photos by Morgan Golliver)

SHERBURNE – The 2025 soccer season is underway for the Sherburne-Earlville boys and girls soccer teams as well as the Oxford Blackhawks boys. Sherburne-Earlville hosted its annual kick-off tournament on its new turf field and in honor of former coach Nigel Seddon, who passed last winter.

For the boys, it was more of a round robin style tournament after Brookfield could not attend. Oxford played Vernon-Verona Sherrill in the first round on Friday with S-E playing the winner in the championship game.

S-E, Brookfield, Johnson City, and Manlius-Pebble Hill played for the girls.

Game 1: V-VS 2 - Oxford 0

Both teams played last year in the S-E tournament championship at Granville fields in the downpour. This year, they played again in the opening round.

Oxford’s Kayden Renfrow was a beast in goal, where he made eight saves, but the offense could not get past a tough Red Devil defense. Joey Locke and Paxton LaMonica showed good movement despite the strong defense tactics by V-VS. Haven Bourn was involved in the defense while Gordon Smith showed power on the offense to set up a corner kick late in the first half, but Oxford could not capitalize.

Smith had a shot on goal with under three minutes to go in the game, but was saved by the opposing goalie.

There was no consolation game, so Oxford will resume play at home against Sherburne-Earlville on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Game 2: Manlius-Pebble Hill 7 - Johnson City 0

Game 3: S-E 2 - Brookfield 0

The Lady Timberwolves showed great possession right off the kickoff with several shots on goal by Katrina White, Kadyn Babcock, Sadie Davis, and Lydia Dulina. To go along with that, Kendall Hill and Ava O’Dell brought the strong defense. S-E earned a corner kick in the first 15 minutes and capitalized on it.

Sadie Davis passed the ball off to Lydia Dulina for the first S-E goal of the season.

The two would connect again early in the second half.

Saturday:

Girls’ Consolation: JC 3- Brookfield 0

Girls’ Championship: MPH 4 - S-E 0

After scoring seven goals in the first round, MPH totaled 11 on the weekend with four more in the championship. MPH scored its first goal on a penalty kick within the first five minutes of the game and another goal under 10 minutes of the first half.

After getting some playing time in Friday’s game, Ava Mereness earned the varsity start. White, Hill, and O’Dell powered the defense, but MPH was able to pass right through. Kayden Edwards had a nice run with an opportunity for Dulina to get some feet on it to score, but the ball was saved by opposing goalie.

Savanna Hook had a chance in the second half with a direct kick, but no such luck. Olivia Parker also saw some nice touches as well.

S-E’s Lydia Dulina, Kendall Hill, and Katrina White earned tournament all-stars.

Boys’ Championship: V-VS 3 - S-E 0.

It was S-E’s first game of the season on their new turf field. Jamie O’Conner played a strong game with long direct shots, even one on goal, and the Timberwolves saw a few good shots by Will Leinbach but no clear opportunity against the opposing goalie, backed by a strong defense.

V-VS scored on their opening possession on a penalty kick and added the second goal three minutes later before scoring the final goal in less than a minute left of the game on a direct kick.

Robert Schaefer, Brooks Lagoe, and Gavin Ingerto were strong on the defense for S-E with Leinbach, O’Connor, Kylor Buschor, and Gibson Sherwood getting some nice touches offensively.

JJ Fischer made 10 saves in goal in the loss.

Fischer, Ingerto, and O’Connor all received tournament all-star recognition.