Portville Panthers Enter 2026 With Defensive Identity, Proven Scorers

Overview

• Portville finished 14-3-1 in 2025 and enters 2026 with seven returning starters.
• Head coach Michael Matz cited a defensive identity as the Panthers’ biggest strength.
• Grace Gariepy had 17 goals and 11 assists in 2025, while Allie Bray added 13 goals and two assists.
• Matz identified Kaylin Elliott as the goalkeeper entering the season and said she is new to the position.
• Portville opens against Falconer/CV/MG on Sept. 8, then meets Fredonia on Sept. 10 and Genesee Valley Belfast on Sept. 14.

Portville enters the 2026 girls soccer season with a familiar foundation: defensive organization, proven scoring at the top of the attack and a group of returning starters that head coach Michael Matz believes can carry experience into another demanding schedule.

“I'm cautiously optimistic about our team this year,” Matz said. “We have 7 returning starters who understand the talent and physicality of our league, but like every team we have new people stepping into roles and we will need them to perform to achieve the level of success we're aiming for.”

Matz listed “defensive identity” as Portville’s biggest strength and said the Panthers want to be disciplined and organized defensively while allowing “creativity and flow in the attacking third.”

The attack has two clear focal points in Grace Gariepy and Allie Bray. Gariepy, a senior and one of Portville’s captains, had 17 goals and 11 assists in 2025 after posting 33 goals and five assists in 2024. Matz also identified Gariepy as the player expected to organize the midfield and help control the way Portville plays.

Bray, a junior, scored 13 goals with two assists last season and was named by Matz as a set-piece threat. Matz said the offensive goal is to find Bray and Gariepy and put them in dangerous situations.

Portville’s returning group also includes senior Ella Zeigler, whom Matz identified as a Houghton College commit, and senior Lauren Lyle, who had three goals and two assists in 2025. Matz listed Gariepy and Zeigler as All-WNY players, and Bray, Lyle and Quinn Scott as CCAA 1 All-Stars.

The captain group is Alana Petersen, Gariepy, Lyle, Zeigler and Peyton Rogers. Matz also pointed to Scott as a returning player who could take a significant step forward, Airiana Whittaker as a newly featured player who could contribute, and Evelyn Noller as a versatile player who gives the team flexibility.

In goal, junior Kaylin Elliott steps into a new role. Matz said Elliott is new to goalkeeping and has put in work throughout the offseason as she transitions from being a field player.

Portville opens against Falconer/CV/MG on Sept. 8 and then meets Fredonia on Sept. 10. The early schedule continues with Genesee Valley Belfast on Sept. 14, East Aurora on Sept. 16, Southwestern on Sept. 17, Jamestown on Sept. 22 and Allegany-Limestone on Sept. 24.

After a 14-3-1 season in 2025, the Panthers return enough experience and scoring to give Matz a clear starting point. The next step is developing the new pieces around that core.