CENTRAL NEW YORK – Fourteen consecutive wins had not only pushed the Bishop Ludden girls soccer team to the no. 2 state Class D ranking, it moved the Gaelic Knights within two victories of an undefeated, untied regular season.
But the dream of perfection was taken away Tuesday night at Tully, where the Black Knights stayed with Ludden for 80 minutes and then, in overtime, delivered a decisive blow to prevail 2-1.
Tully arrived at this game with a 6-6 record, but from the outset put on pressure, getting on the board in the first half to match the goal by the Gaelic Knights’ Elizabeth Gaughan, assisted by Ashley Pawelczyk.
Through a scoreless second half, the tension built, Ludden unable to get anything more past Black Knights goalie Madeleine Brown-Paul, who finished with eight saves.
Then, in the OT period, Tully won it, getting the game-winner as Rachel Daddona and Madelyn Lund had put in the goals.
To some degree, this put some pressure off Ludden, who didn’t have to worry about protecting a perfect mark and could just go after a championship. Plus, the Gaelic Knights could take what it learned here and apply it to the more important games ahead.
First, though, there was a game with Manlius Pebble Hill 24 hours later that allowed Ludden a chance to let out a lot of frustration – which it did, blanking the Trojans 6-0.
Pawelczyk managed two goals and two assists and, for the season, owns 31 goals and 18 assists. Gaughan got a goal and two assists as Jane Fallon, Jordyn Townes and Sophia Chemotti also found the net. Melissa Pullano added an assist.
West Genesee will go after the sectional Class AA title. The state no. 12-ranked Wildcats, whose lone defeat came to Fayetteville-Manlius on Oct. 3, roared Tuesday in a 6-0 shutout of Fulton.
Anna Nelson, with her pair of goals, led a general offensive breakout on WG’s part. Maria Snyder, Maddy Mango, Addison Foster and Kyra Lynch also found the net, with Bridget Petrus getting a pair of assists. Single asists were credited to Ellie McMahon, Tori Hulbert and Chelsea Donaldson.
Just as impressive was WG’s 5-0 shutout of Central Square on Thursday night, the game tight until a second-half scoring blitz that, again, featured plenty of Wildcats.
Petrus notched her first two-goal outing of the season. Sophomore Jami Tessier had just her second goal of the fall and added a pair of assists as Hulbert and Claire Petty also converted. Mango and Donaldson gained assists.
Finishing its regular season Saturday at Jamesville-DeWitt, WG, improving its record to 13-1-2, claimed another shutout, this one a 1-0 decision where Nelson was the difference-maker.
It was Nelson’s goal, assisted by McMahon, that thwarted the Red Rams’ upset bid and marred an otherwise fine performance by J-D goalie Lindsay Parker, who recorded eight saves.
This success helps WG earn the top seed in the sectional Class AA tournament – and a bye straight into the semifinals on Oct. 24 at Nottingham High School against whoever wins Thursday’s quarterfinal between no. 4 seed Whitesboro and no. 5 seed Watertown.
Meanwhile, Ludden has the no. 2 seed in Class D. A 16-team bracket means everyone must get through a first-round game on Tuesday, so the Gaelic Knights face no. 15 seed Town of Webb with the winner to meet Remsen or Belleville-Henderson in the quarterfinals.
Jordan-Elbridge-Cato Meridian closed its regular season last Thursday with a 5-1 defeat to Pulaski. Kendall Dye and Lily Hunter had two goals apiece to lead Pulaski’s efforts as the Eagles fell to 3-12-1.
