by Steve Bradley
The HFCS girls soccer team has been busy this past week adding wins to its total. In the sectional playoffs, the Ladies defeated Holy Names on Friday and, in an exciting, hard fought game, defeated Schuylerville this past Monday. Both games were held on the Panthers’ Delurey Field in Hoosick.
HF 4 Holy Names 0
In Friday’s Holy Names game, the Lady Panthers got out to a 4 – 0 first half lead that easily carried them through the remainder of the game. Taylor Mann, on an assist from Jordyn Haynes, got the Panthers on the board first. Even with the wet, sloppy conditions from all the rain, the Ladies continued to play well and move the ball into position. Angela Gonzalez scored an unassisted goal. Then Rachel Pine scored twice, both on assists from Meg Flynn.
All didn’t go according to plan in the first half. Junior Jordyn Haynes, all time HFCS career goal leader, went down with a left ankle sprain midway through the first half. In front of the goal where it was the muddiest on the field, she slipped and turned her ankle. Seeing Haynes helped off the field because of an injury was not a sight anyone wanted to see.
There were no goals scored in the second half.
Jade Tutunjian had four saves in goal for the Panthers. Holy Names’ goalie Meghan Scott had eight.
HF 2 Schuylerville 1
In a game where the outcome was not decided until late in the second half, the Ladies played the Schuylerville Black Horses Monday afternoon. With the loss of Haynes to injury, the Panthers were determined to overcome the loss of their playmaker.
From the beginning the teams appeared evenly matched. Most of the play took place near midfield. The Panthers did get one on the board on a bit of a fluke. Meg Flynn kicked the ball from almost midfield towards the goal, just trying to get the ball upfield. The ball took a big bounce in front of the Schuylerville goalie and bounced over the goalie’s head, almost heading straight down but just enough that the ball entered the goal between the crossbar and the goalie. Whatever the intent, or however it happened, the goal counted, and the Panthers led, 1 – 0.
The rest of the first half was played with intensity but no scores.
In the second half, the play was more in the Horses’ end of the field. The Panthers appeared to have a little bit of an edge but midway through the half (each half is 40 minutes) Schuylerville scored on a bit of a fluke themselves. On a free kick, the Schuylerville player kicked at the goal, and the ball just sailed right into the goal untouched, tying the game at 1 – 1.
At this point, the intensity of the game increased with each team’s fans encouraging their players more. Schuylerville had two opportunities to score after their goal, but luck was on the Panthers’ side with each of them. One shot hit the post and bounced back. In the other opportunity, with the Panther goalie caught where she couldn’t get into position fast enough, the Schuylerville shooter missed the open goal when her kick flew over the crossbar.
With five minutes to go in what was increasingly looking to be an overtime game, the Panthers got their chance. After a free kick by Meg Flynn to start the play, Rachel Pine tracked down and caught up with ball in front of the Schuylerville goal. Already behind the goalie, Pine kicked in the winner from just outside the goal line. That goal sent the Panthers to the Sectional semifinals.
HF 2 Catholic Central 6
On Wednesday the Ladies traveled to north Troy to play at Lansingburgh High School. The Ladies faced the #3 seed Catholic Central Crusaders, a team the Panthers defeated earlier this season. Jordyn Haynes started for the Panthers, which had been questionable due to an ankle injury late last week. The Crusaders got the breaks, as in breakaways. Most of the Crusaders goals came on breakaways with one or two players getting ahead of everyone for a score. The Crusaders held a 2 – 0 halftime lead and pulled away from there. The Panthers had chances but struggled to get the ball into the goal.
Casie Mann and Jordyn Haynes scored for the Panthers. Jayde Tutunjian had 16 saves for the Panthers; Catholic Central’s goalkeeper Dominique Stavis had 13.
The Lady Panthers finished with a fine 16 – 2 – 1 record.