CENTRAL NEW YORK – Unlike recent years, the Cazenovia and Chittenango girls soccer teams were in separate places when it came to the Section III playoffs, wit the Bears moving up to join Class A and the Lakers staying put in Class B.
Both sides, though, would win opening-round games on Tuesday night, with Cazenovia, the no. 7 seed in B, able to win on its new home artificial turf against no. 10 seed Hannibal in a 3-1 decision.
The Lakers edged out in front 2-1 by halftime despite a Warriors goal, then tacked on a late insurance tally as Ava Vanetti and Raeanne Thompson both finished with one goal and one assist.
Maura Phillips also put in a goal, with Sally Hughes getting an assist. Skye Stanford recorded five saves as the Lakers earned a berth in Thursday’s quarterfinal against no. 2 seed Marcellus, a team it lost to 7-1 late in September.
The rematch would be a bit closer, yet Cazenovia would not be able to get on the board as a rested, refreshed Mustangs side prevailed by a 4-0 margin to end the Lakers’ season.
Largely, this game belonged to Marcellus’ star forward, Cece Powell. Between her three-goal hat trick and an assist on her sister Janie’s goal, Powell was involved in every Mustangs scoring play.
Meanwhile, on the other end the Lakers kept running into a Marcellus defense that limited it to just two shots all night. Stanford had nine saves, but Cazenovia saw its final mark fall to 6-9-3.
Then there was Chittenango’s girls, who had the no. 7 seed in Class A and would get a chance, in its sectional quarterfinals, to end the four-year unbeaten streak of reigning state champion New Hartford.
The Bears earned this chance by beating no. 10 seed Homer 4-1 in last Tuesday’s opening round, with Abby Scheidelman netting her 20th and 21st goals of the season, adding an assist.
Other goals went to Hannah Wagner and Hannah Machan, which more than made up for Homer having Caitlin McCoy get on the board. Rebecca Baldwin stopped everything else, making six saves as counterpart Alex Kellaway had 11 saves.
New Hartford loomed next, and felt all the pressure of maintaining its long unbeaten run, allowing the Bears to stay close for a half as it only trailed 1-0 at the break.
However, Chittenango saw all seven of its shots stopped by Abby O’Connor, and the Spartans got away to take it 3-0, led by Elizabeth Rayhill and Amanda Graziano each getting one goal and one assist. The Bears concluded with a 10-7-1 record.
