CENTRAL NEW YORK – Though the challenge will be immense, girls soccer teams from Cazenovia and Chittenango will still barrel their way into the Section III playoffs next week with reason to think they could do something.
In particular, Cazenovia, despite its modest 5-8-3 record, had reason for real optimism because of its performance last Thursday night in a 1-0 victory over Skaneateles.
Those other Lakers arrived at this game with a 9-4-1 record and had beat Cazenovia earlier this season, though that was also a 1-0 decision and the defenses would be just as good in the rematch.
In particular, Cazenovia had to be tough on the back end, since Skaneateles had the ball most of the night and had a steady string of opportunities, only to have Skye Stanford turn back all 14 shots she faced.
This was rewarded when Raeanne Thompson got just her fourth goal of the season, assisted by Ava Vanetti. It was one of just six shots Cazenovia had on the night.
Chittenango, meanwhle, enters the Class A sectional tournament, where New Hartford is the reigning sectional and state champions and remains the team to beat, even with the arrival of last year’s sectional Class B champion, Westhill.
And it was the Warriors whom Chittenango would face last Thursday night, the Bears falling by a score of 4-1. Abby Horning had the lone goal, assisted by Abby Scheidelman, but Westhill got one goal apiece from Elle Herrera, Kara Rosenberger, Hannah Goodness and Sierra Jetter, with Herrera and Rosenberger also getting assists.
Scheidelman got her second consecutive hat trick last Tuesday in the Bears’ 6-0 shutout of Homer. Putting up three goals, Scheidelman worked her season total to 19 while also earning an assist as Hannah Machan stepped up, earning a goal and two assists.
Abby Baldwin had one goal and one assist, with Gracie Hayes-Brazell getting the other goal and an assist credited to Taylor Velardi.
After the loss to Westhill, Chittenango tried to rebound in Saturday’s regular-season finale against Phoenix but lost, 3-1, to the Firebirds, only seeing Abby Penfield get a goal, assisted by Scheidelman.
Brooklyn Olschewske led Phoenix with one goal and one assist, the other goals going to Paige Pinkley and Madelena DiGiovanni as Sara Ruetsch stopped 12 of the Bears’ 13 shots. Rebecca Baldwin had 10 saves.
Chittenango ended up with the no. 7 seed in the sectional Class A tournament. The Bears will face no. 10 seed Homer in Tuesday’s opening round, with the winner going to Thursday’s quarterfinal against no. 2 seed and defending state champion New Hartford.
Despite its 5-8-3 mark, Cazenovia earned enough points in the new playoff system to draw its own no. 7 seed in Class B, meaning it will host no. 10 seed Hannibal in the opening round, with the winner to get a quarterfinal against Marcellus or Sherburne-Earlville.
