ESPN play of the day highlights talent on display during Section V girls soccer tournament

Wrianna Hudson couldn't head the ball as an eighth grader.

By Hudson's sophomore season, though, the Greece Athena soccer star was hitting headers with ease, further unleashing her offensive prowess.

"Now she's a completely well-rounded player. There isn't a thing she can't do," Athena coach Jeremiah Bergan said.

That was an early example of Hudson's work ethic. The 2022 All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year, Hudson nailed a header during a game that blew up on ESPN for another one of Hudson's highlight reel goals. But making Sportscenter almost didn't happen for Hudson. The Florida State University commit's soccer season was in jeopardy following navicular coalition surgery over the summer to fix her left ankle. Hudson missed half the season, but she'll take it.

"I didn't think I was going to play this year at all because it was so late in the summer. But fortunately my doctor cleared me," Hudson said.

Hudson tops Sportscenter Top 10

One of Section V's most feared forwards, Hudson must have a high pain tolerance because she still feels discomfort. Hudson felt rusty during her Sept. 25 season debut, but she played better four days later.

That's when the Pickin' Splinters clip of Hudson's one-vs-five goal began going viral. ESPN eventually placed it No. 1 on the Sept. 30 edition of Sportscenter's Top 10 Plays. A friend broke the news to Hudson's family that morning, but she didn't see it until the next day. Hudson just wanted to win her senior game and not go into overtime. Athena beat Canandaigua 2-1.

"We were all in it," Hudson said. "I just did whatever it took to win that game and not go into overtime."

That victory sparked a five-game winning streak as Athena entered Wednesday's Section V Class AA tournament — bad news for anyone sleeping on the seventh-seeded Trojans.

Hudson's offseason regiment has developed her power, speed, and ability in small spaces. Her height advantage at 6-foot-2 is rare, helping her score 26 goals as a sophomore and 32 last fall.

"She's just a great person. That's what I think I'm going to miss most when I think about it being her senior year. ... This is really a unique year for me in terms of working with her," Bergan said.

Greece Athena's offense

Julia Russo is one of the section's best center midfielders, if you ask Bergan. Russo, a junior, has played out of position the last two seasons to bring Athena balance. She's fast and does anything coach asks.

"We don't defend or attack well without her. The last two years she's gone up against girls going Division I and made it look like they weren't on the field," Bergan said.

Russo is impressed by Ella Perkins, a sophomore who moved to wing back. "If you get into a 50-50 with her she'll most likely win the ball," Russo said.

Bergan taught principles that helped players whether Hudson was playing or not. Abby Devine, Emily McMichael, Haley Drake and Lauren Grasley have all developed into their roles.

"Haley can control every part of the field and she's really fast," senior center back Jayden Matlock said.

"Lauren moved up from JV and is super strong player. I can't count the times she's helped our team out," junior center back Kate Rayburn said.

Section V girls soccer top seeds for 2023 tournament

Class AAA: Fairport (5-8-2). Class AA: Spencerport (16-0-0). Class A: Aquinas (13-1-2). Class B: Haverling (14-1-0). Class C1: Holley (13-3-0). Class C2: Gananda (16-0-0). Class D: Fillmore (16-0-0).

Fairport is the No. 1 seed in Class AAA. Section V's new three-team classification automatically sends the top-seeded Red Raiders into the Thursday, Oct. 26 final against the winner of the RCSD-United and Rush-Henrietta semifinal.

Class AA's 16-team field will be a gauntlet with No. 1 Spencerport and No. 2 Webster Schroeder. A seventh-seeded Greece Athena team riding a five-game winning streak since the return of Hudson may shake things up.

"It's about hitting your peak at the right time, and we are just about hitting our peak," Bergan said. "I don't think there's anything this team can't do. It's up to them at this point."

Forwards and midfielders to watch during Section V girls soccer tournament

This list is compiled of nominations from Section V coaches.

Libby Benner, Keshequa: Senior midfielder has 12 goals and 7 assists.

Lana Burnett, Marcus Whitman: Surpasses 50 career goals.

Alivia Cartwright, Keshequa: Midfielder has 3 goals and 10 assists.

Sam Cipolla, Gates Chili: Team's point leader last three seasons is a "scary player for any team to face."

Jeanna Christensen, Greece Olympia: The eighth-grade forward has 9 goals and 5 assists. Uses speed to get to any spot, excellent footwork helps to dribble around defender to set up a shot for herself or teammates.

Kelsey Davis, Keshequa: Senior midfielder with 5 goals and 9 assists.

Alivia Day, Rush-Henrietta: The senior is a two-year captain in her fifth season known for her speed, finishing, work rate and vision. Day's work ethic has made her a role model for younger players.

Jill Ewing, Churchville-Chili: Registered 3 goals and 2 assists as a sophomore.

Hayley Falco, Greece Olympia: Sophomore center midfielder and winger has 6 goals and an assist. Looks to pass and can shoot when not shutting down her mark.

Alison Farrell, Wheatland-Chili

Isabella Fiorillo, Spencerport: Scored 8 goals and made 2 assists.

Emma Garigen, Penfield: The two-year starter has 14 goals and 2 assists as a junior forward.

Mia Gray, Byron-Bergen: The sophomore scored her 99th goal in Tuesday's Class C2 first round win after netting three goals with three assists.

Vanessa Guerrero, Wheatland-Chili

Wrianna Hudson, Greece Athena

Braelyn Isaman, Keshequa: Team's "spark" since moving up from JV last year, has 17 goals and 10 assists this season.

Delaena Kingston, Churchville-Chili: Sophomore helps develop offense from the middle.

Lindsay Lenhard, Spencerport: Registered 16 goals and 16 assists.

Alice Marchese, Penfield: The offensive midfielder is a four-year starter with 11 goals and 7 assists this season. She senior is committed to Quinnipiac University.

Madison Mastrodonato, Churchville-Chili: The sophomore wins balls in the middle to develops play offensively from the middle.

Kayla Mattice, Greece Olympia: Junior co-captain has 7 goals and 5 assists. A strong and fast forward who has "amazing" throw-ins.

Jaeda Mekker, Wheatland-Chili

Emily Parker, Wheatland-Chili

Emily Peacock, Spencerport: Collected 8 goals and 3 assists.

Olivia Pilato, Hilton: Scored 8 goals and totaled 8 assists in 15 games accounted for more than half the team's goals. The junior played forward and midfielder as she's stepped in for injured teammates.

Julia Russo, Greece Athena:

Maddie Strain, Keshequa: Midfielder has 3 goals and 2 assists.

Lillian Swavely, Wheatland-Chili

Liana Tata, Spencerport: Totaled 8 goals and an assist.

Sarah Tawaf, Greece Olympia: Junior co-captain leads team with 16 goals and 9 assists. Controls game, accurate passer who can split defenders, powerful shot.

Ellie Teerlinck, Canandaigua: Broke the school record for goals in a season when her Oct. 13th hat trick gave her 16 goals on the season. The previous single season record was set by Caitlyn Serafine Malzewski in 2004.

Ava Thayer, Keshequa: Livingston County's points leader with 22 goals and 12 assists. Thayer works hard checking to the ball, finding her place in the back of the net, and distributing to teammates.

Emma Watson, Spencerport: Scored 7 goals and made 4 assists.

Ella Yartym, Haverling: The St. Bonaventure commit became Haverling's first female to surpass 100 career goals earlier this season.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V girls soccer tournament: ESPN highlight shows talent in area