Girls soccer: New Hartford reaches state final on penalty kicks, Sauquoit Valley wins 2-1

Class A: New Hartford 1, Spencerport 1 (6-5 PKs)

New Hartford seniors Savannah Cole and Anna Rayhill, along with coach Frank DuRoss shared one sentiment after the Spartans win over Spencerport in a shootout.

They never experienced a more stressful soccer moment.

For three seasons, NH routinely trounced opponents on their way to a 58-game unbeaten streak and a state title.

On Saturday, Spencerport challenged New Hartford more than any team since 2019.

But, the Spartans survived.

They defeated the Rangers 1-1 (6-5) in a penalty shootout in the New York State Class A Semifinals. NH (23-0-1) will play Section I’s Albertus Magnus from Bardonia for a state title Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Tompkins Cortland Community College in Cortland.

“We haven’t been to penalties in a few years, and it’s emotional, it’s stressful,” DuRoss said. “It’s tough to turn around and do it tomorrow, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

A hard-fought first 110 minutes

Physicality has defined the Spartans last few games, and that held true again Saturday. Spencerport (17-2-2), with its two state titles, knows how to play in big games and roughed up the Spartans to a tune of a 0-0 halftime score.

Senior Willa Pratt, who ranks second on the team with 24 goals, put NH ahead midway through the second half.

At this point, the contest appeared like New Hartford’s last couple. A slow start offensively, but an eventual win after a second half goal.

But DuRoss noticed his team began to play more aggressively than it needed to.

“I would have liked better possession and move the ball,” he said. “We don’t need to force time after time and get another goal.”

That aggressiveness cost the team 71 minutes in. Cole extended far past the net, and Lindsay Leonard fired it in. The goal was just the fifth allowed for the Spartans this season.

For the next 40 minutes through the two overtime periods, New Hartford battled to regain momentum and stave off another Ranger goal. Numerous Spencerport shots hit the post early in overtime, but eventually Cole and the rest of the defense stabilized.

Offensively, the Spartans failed to regain its explosive rhythm. DuRoss reminded the team to stay patient and move the ball.

“After they scored on us, it got real,” Cole said. “We knew we only had a short amount of time, and I couldn’t allow any more goals.”

Rayhill, meanwhile, battled through emotions and injury late in the game. She said she needs to conserve her energy better since her and Pratt often run up and down the field.

Spartans go to penalty kicks

With the momentum favoring the Rangers, one would think the Spartans wanted the game to go to penalty kicks.

But DuRoss, Cole and Rayhill dreaded the PKs. Cole, for example, noted she hadn’t played in a shootout since she was 10. She remained relaxed though, adding that a goalie can’t be nervous during PKs.

DuRoss said the team practiced PKs all season, and it showed. NH started 5-5 with Pratt, Rayhill, Biddie Clive, Talia Vitullo and Amanda Graziano all scoring.

Problem for New Hartford is Spencerport also started 5-5. Cole got her hands on two, but they still landed in the back of the net.

The game moved into sudden-death penalties, and after Mia Roberts tallied one for the Spartans, Aleena Solano approached for the Rangers.

Solano shot it and Cole dove to the right side, just enough for her extended left foot to contact the ball and deliver New Hartford the win.

What's Next?

New Hartford now faces a quick turnaround with its game against Albertus Magnus 19 hours after Saturday's game concluded.

The Falcons (21-1) rank second in the state. They beat Levittown-MacArthur 2-1 earlier Saturday behind a goal ahead goal from leading scorer Gabby Chen.

DuRoss played his starters all 110 minutes Saturday, so he emphasized the need for them to rest and recover.

“This is going to be the last game our group of seniors play, so I have no doubt they’ll leave it all on the field,” he said.

More:Section 3 girls soccer scores for the 2022 season

Class C: Sauquoit Valley 2, Byron-Bergen 1

Most teams shy away from facing a deadly offensive attack, and Section V’s Byron-Bergen falls into that category.

The Bees maintain two players – Mia Gray and Mackenzie Haegen – who each topped 40 goals this year.

But Sauquoit Valley embraces that challenge, according to coach Courtney Roberts.

“That one moment where you leave your girl open or sag off a step or two, and they get an opportunity, that's there all falls on your shoulders. Our girls know that,” Roberts said.

On Saturday, the Indians rarely left any Byron-Bergen players open and defeated the Bees 2-1 to advance to the Class C State Final for the first time in a dozen years. SV will play Waterford-Halfmoon Sunday at 10 a.m. at Cortland High School.

Sauquoit controls from start to finish

Due to B-B’s undefeated 22-0 record and Sauquoit’s (19-2-1) two losses, it entered as underdogs. It’s a role that bothered Roberts all season before she embraced.

“A lot of teams are coming out thinking they’ve got the game in the bag because they are undefeated,” she said.

SV grabbed control of the game after an initial slow start, but it didn’t translate into any goals.

“They were amped up, they were a little nervous,” Roberts said. “I had to remind them at halftime to stick to the game plan. This is our plan, don’t deviate from it.”

Early in the second half, Olivia Kalil capitalized and stole the ball from Bees goalie Novalee Pocock. She fired it in and gave the Indians the lead.

A few minutes later, B-B tied the game on a goal from Emma Starowitz.

Roberts said as the half wore on, SV’s strength and conditioning gassed the Bees. She added last week’s 1-0 win over Watkins Glen in regionals caused the team to not lose focus Saturday.

“It got us under the mindset of playing under pressure because they weren’t many times this season we were down,” Roberts said. “It made us focus and realize we need another goal.”

That goal came with 10 minutes left when sophomore Addison Lazarek took advantage of a defensive miscue and scored off an assist from Paige Kuhn.

“We worked the ball from the left side to the right side, and from the cross up, and they definitely were not ready for that,” she said.

What's Next?

Waterford-Halfmoon sits between SV and its first state title. The state top-ranked Fordians (21-1) cruised past Millbrook 3-0 Saturday. Both teams are seeking their first title.

Roberts said the team chose to travel back to Sauquoit Saturday night instead of staying overnight.

“I think if we come out and play our best game, like I’ve been saying, we can win,” Roberts said.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: New Hartford, Sauquoit Valley advance to girls soccer state finals