As it set out to try and claim an 11th consecutive Section III Class A championship, the Jamesville-DeWitt girls soccer team had an unlikely ally emerge in the opening week of the sectional tournament.
The Red Rams had the no. 2 seed due to its 14-2 record. Central Square, whose 14-1-1 mark included an overtime win over J-D late in September, earned the top seed.
But that didn’t make the Redhawks’ post-season path an easy one, for in its sectional quarterfinal Thursday night it would have to face J-D’s neighbors from Christian Brothers Academy, which loomed as a tricky test for a Central Square side unaccustomed to this favorite’s perch.
Or at least that’s what it seemed before the game.
When things got started, the Redhawks proved up to that challenge, putting an end to CBA’s season in a 4-0 decision where Central Square scored twice in each half to overcome Erin Jones’ six saves.
Erin Herrmann led the charge, giving the Redhawks a three-goal hat trick, while Allyson Isereau earned the other goal. Assists went to Cora Keohane and Ryan Colton.
Just to get to Central Suare, CBA first had to beat no. 9 seed Indian River in last Tuesday night’s opening-round game at Alibrandi Stadium, and did so, shutting out the Warriors 3-0.
It proved a showcase for Kennedy Paciaga, who twice scored in the first half and then added a third goal in the second half for the hat trick. The Brothers’ defense held IR to five shots.
As CBA was getting knocked out at Central Square, J-D had its own sectional quarterfinal to get through against no. 7 seed Whitesboro, a familiar playoff match-up as three of the Rams’ 10 straight sectional titles had come through beating the Warriors in the title game.
This version was challenging, too, but J-D earned its 31st straight sectional playoff win, edging Whitesboro 2-1 after neither team scored in the first half, the Rams threatening plenty, but getting thwarted by Warriors goalie Nora Vick, who would finish with 13 saves.
Then the Rams broke through after intermission thanks to Tonia Kousmanidis and Ava Brazie, both of whom netted goals. Gracie Stuhlman got on the board for Whitesboro, but Katie Cappelletti turned everything else back, finishing with five saves.
East Syracuse Minoa, holding the no. 6 seed, met up with no. 3 seed New Hartford on Thursday night, the prize a semifinal date against J-D on Tuesday at Chittenango High School.
And it was those other Spartans prevailing 2-0, Anna Rayhill’s goal in the 24th minutes putting New Hartford in front and then her sister, Erin Rayhill, getting the insurance goal early in the second half.
Though ESM goalie Isabelle Chavoustie finished with 10 saves, none of her teammates’ eight shots got past New Hartford’s freshman goalie, Savannah Cole.
Those semifinal games, which involve J-D and New Hartford on one side and Central Square and Cortland on the other side, will determine who plays for the sectional title this Friday at SUNY-Cortland.
It was a quick run in the Class C sectional tournament for Bishop Grimes as the no. 11 seed Cobras dropped a 3-1 decision to no. 6 seed Westmoreland in last Tuesday’s rain-soaked opening round.
Abby Tweedale did put in a goal for the Cobras, but the Bulldogs countered with Mary Muller getting one goal and one assist as Mia Lazzara and Samantha Dee also had goals. Natalie Musolino had nine saves as Grimes finished its season with a 7-7 record.
