by Steve Bradley
It would seem that if you move up in class, the competition would be that much tougher to defeat. But so far in Section 2, Class B play, HFCS girls soccer just keeps mowing down the opponents just like it did in Class C Sectionals in previous years.
Facing the eighth seeded Chatham Panthers in first round action at Delurey Field, the HF Panthers came out kicking. In the first half, HF scored two goals to Chatham’s zero. After the break, the hosts kept the visitors on their heels by scoring four more goals. Chatham was never in the game, as much as their fans tried to get them into it. The number one seeded Panthers’ defense was able to keep Chatham away from HF goalie Hannah Fricke, who had four saves. At the other end of the field, the HF offense was constantly harassing the Chatham goalie, and she ended up with ten saves on the day. HF would take the 6 – 0 win and move on. Once again, the HF Panthers ended a Chatham Panther season.
Jordyn Haynes and Rachel Pine scored two goals each, and Casie Mann and MacKenzie Hinchliffe each contributed one. Hinchliffe also added four assists on the day.
The win allowed HF to move on to quarterfinal play and face the number five seeded (10 – 6) Voorheesville Blackbirds Monday on the turf at Lansingburgh High School.
On an afternoon where the weather at the start of the game was rather balmy and then rapidly became cooler as the time passed, the Panthers started out hot and never cooled off. When the game came to an end, the Panthers outscored the Blackbirds, 7 – 1.
Before the Blackbirds had a chance to try to contain the Panther offense, Haynes, with assists from Hinchliffe and Rachel Pine, had flown past the Blackbirds defense for two goals. As the first half went on, Pine and Hinchliffe each added goals of their own to give the Panthers a 4 – 0 halftime lead.
Immediately after the halftime break, the Blackbirds went down the field and scored. This would be the highlight of their day.
The Panthers kept the pressure on. Haynes and Hinchliffe added another goal each. Ashley Foster booted in her first goal as a varsity player, and she and her teammates were very happy about that. Hinchliffe had three assists, and Pine, Haynes and Angela Gonzalez each added one. Goalie Fricke ended the day with seven saves.
The Ladies move into the semi-final bracket and take on the number two seeded (15 – 2) Greenville Spartans. The game will take place at Lansingburgh High School on Thursday, October 31, beginning at 4:30 pm. Parking is at the east end of 107th Street, behind the school.
Should the Panthers win, they will compete in the finals Saturday, November 2, at Lansingburgh High School. That game is scheduled to be begin at 2:30 pm.
