Though the Westhill girls soccer team accomplished a lot on its undefeated run to another Section III Class B championship, one thing it rarely had to worry about was facing a deficit.
The Warriors’ 18 shutouts in 20 games meant that it played most of the season protecting leads, but the post-season has provided some variations on that theme, starting with the last-minute Megan O’Reilly goal that kept the sectional final against Lowville from going to overtime.
Then, in Tuesday’s Class B regional opener against Section II champion Schalmont at Stillwater High School, Westhill faced the extra pressure of having to come from behind – but it did so as Sophia Caron’s pair of goals helped the Warriors beat the Sabres 2-1.
These same teams met in this same regional round one year ago, and Westhill pulled it out 3-2 on the way to a state finals appearance. The rematch had just as much tension, but a similar result, much to the Warriors’ delight.
All through the game’s first 30 minutes, Westhill kept the ball in Schalmont’s end, only to have the Sabres’ defense continually resist them and keep things 0-0.
Not until the 34th minute did Schalmont have a good chance – and when it did off a corner kick, Jules Morlea sent it past Bella Lavigne to give the Sabres a 1-0 lead that held up until halftime. It was the first goal Westhill allowed since surrendering two to Marcellus on Oct. 3 – a shutout streak that covered nearly 600 minutes of field time.
Even though it hadn’t trailed much all season, the Warriors maintained its poise, and the tying goal proved it.
In the 56th minute, Westhill’s pressure led to a Katelyn Karleski shot off the post, but seconds later Caron pounced on it and did find the net to make it 1-1.
A goalpost factored into Caron’s go-ahead goal with 10:30 left, too. Finding herself open on yet another Westhill attack, Caron’s shot, banged off the post, and the ball careened just across the goal line. Karleski got credit for the assist.
Now Westhill had to hang on. Lavigne made a key stop less than three minutes after Caron’s second tally, one of seven saves Lavigne recorded, and a shot by Morlea with three minutes smacked into the crossbar, inches from tying it again.
