For a long time, the relationship between the Solvay girls soccer team and its league rivals from Marcellus resembled that of a nail and a hammer — with the Bearcats often serving as the nail.
That all changed, though, on an overcast Thursday night when Solvay went to Marcellus and stunned the Mustangs, 1-0, in the Section III Class B quarterfinals.
Not only did the win reverse a long period of Marcellus domination in this series, it also marked the first time since 1998 that the Mustangs did not advance at least to the sectional semifinal round. Solvay’s last sectional title came nearly a quarter-century ago, in 1985, long before any of the current players were born.
Solvay, the no. 11 seed in the Class B tournament, had come close to beating Marcellus in both regular-season meetings, and second-year head coach Melody Frederickson had her players believing that, the third time around, it could prevail.
Marcellus, meanwhile, had gained a no. 3 seed with a 13-3 mark, built mostly through close victories. But the Mustangs had ripped Phoenix 7-0 in its regular-season finale on Oct. 23, so all looked to be normal as it rested and got ready for the Bearcats.
As the teams worked through the first half, their knowledge of each other led to few great scoring chances, but the fact that Solvay could play on even terms increased the team’s confidence level.
Sure enough, in the 27th minute the Bearcats rushed the net and, off a scramble, senior midfielder Mariesa Carpenter slipped a shot past Marcellus goalie Megan Tock to put Solvay in front.
Since the Mustangs would hold Solvay to just eight shots all night, the rest of the game would be spent waiting to see if the Bearcats could hang on to its biggest win in years.
Led by Maggie Klasen and Gabby Santoferrara, the Solvay back line stayed patient against the Mustangs’ possession game, making sure no one in a white jersey got open. And while a series of shots did come off, sophomore goalie Chelsea Root got a hold of all of them, earning 10 saves for the shutout.
Just getting to the quarterfinals was a chore for the Bearcats, who had to go east and survive a long, harrowing battle with no. 6 seed Mount Markham to beat those other Mustangs 3-2 in overtime.
Toughened up by playing OHSL Liberty foes all season, Solvay grabbed a 2-1 lead by halftime on goals by freshman Alexis Bandera and senior Jessica Savo, as senior Amanda Bigness and junior Katie Martinez got credit for assists.
Solvay cooled off, though, in the second half, giving Mount Markham a chance to come back. Sure enough, it got even, 2-2, as Ashleigh Butler and Megan Peterson landed goals.
Meanwhile, the Bearcats constantly got frustrated as Mount Markham goalie Tori Roberts made 28 saves, a number that kept growing through the end of regulation and one 10-minute overtime period.
With four minutes left in the second OT, and a shoot-out near, Solvay finally moved ahead when Bigness flicked a shot past Roberts, sending the Bearcats to its date with Marcellus.
Denied a shot at its fifth sectional championship in seven years, the Mustangs finish with a mark of 13-4 as 10 seniors, including Tock, Erin Walter, Chelsea Tarolli, Jessie Manahan, Christa Rockburn, Leea Sinay and Samantha Vulcano, depart.
Solvay, meanwhile, would face a Frontier League foe, Lowville or South Jefferson, in the Class B semifinals early next week.
