With its undefeated mark and no. 2 state Class B ranking, it’s no surprise that the Westhill girls soccer team is going back to SUNY-Cortland to play for Section III honors – but who’s joining them is a surprise.
Clinton, the no. 7 seed, has pulled off two upsets in this sectional tournament. in the the Oct. 20 quarterfinals, Clinton went to Marcellus and stunned the no. 2-seed Mustangs 1-0 and then followed up that feat by going north, to Camden, and putting away unbeaten no. 2 seed Lowville by that exact same margin.
By contrast, Westhill put home nine goals in its two playoff wins, blanking South Jefferson 4-0 in its quarterfinal and then, in the sectional semifinal Tuesday at Nottingham High School, put everything together to shut out no. 4 seed Skaneateles 5-0.
When the two sides met late in September, Westhill beat Skaneateles 4-0, and it was the same here as the Lakers found itself in a defensive mode right away, turning away many chances, but surrendering a goal in the 12th minute when Katelyn Karleski’s touch free kick was fit inside the left post by Erin McMullen.
Skaneateles had to count on clearing the ball out of its own end and, perhaps, having someone like Raenah Campbell take advantage.
In the game’s most crucial turn of events, Bella Lavigne ran out to the edge of the 18-yard box midway through the first half and pounced on the ball before Campbell could poke it past her.
Lavigne’s aggressive play instead sparked the Warriors on the other end. McMullen, off a free kick, converted again in the 24th minute. Before Skaneateles could regroup, Westhill had the ball in the Lakers’ end again, and Jayanna Monds sent a low shot past a sliding Sophie Kush in the 34th minute to put the margin to 3-0.
That’s where it stood at halftime, but Westhill wasn’t content. Monds would strike for a second goal on a long run near the midway point of the second half and, 30 seconds later, Megan O’Reilly scored. Abby Stack and Morgan Elmer each got credit for assists, along with Karleski.
If Westhill beats Clinton, it will mark three sectional titles in the last five years. Game time at SUNY-Cortland is 6 p.m.
