MECHANICVILLE, NY — It took Averill Park about half the first half to get things rolling and adjust in Monday night’s Class A sectional semifinal against Mohonasen.
“There were a little bit of nerves there in the first, unfortunately,” said Averill Park Girl’s Soccer Head Coach Nate Luskin. “Some things we tried to correct Saturday and Sunday in practice for a long time we were still doing wrong the first 25 minutes defensively.”
Despite the defensive struggles, Averill Park clawed its way to the 1-0 win on the back of a Gabby Geise goal in the 28th minute of the Section II semifinal.
“First half was a little out of whack,” said senior goalkeeper Michelina Lombardi. “After that our coaches brought us together. We were a little bit disorganzied but we cleaned it up in the second half.”
Geise has been an offensive weapon all season for Averill Park and has proven it in the Class A semifinals and quarterfinals this sectional.
“She’s one of our better players on our team that can take someone on one-versus-one,” said Luskin. “I mean look, she’s stepping and stopping with the ball, she’s creative, and she’s more confident with the ball.”
“Gabby is really stepping up,” said Lombardi. “She’s playing a huge roll for us.”
Averill Park spent a lot of time in the first half defending but then completely flipped things and began generating shots on cage that could have given the Warriors some insurance if it wasn’t for Mohonasen goalkeeper Trinity Gulbrandsen, who had to make some acrobatic saves in the win.
“Their keeper was excellent,” said Luskin. “Some of those ones we are telling the girls to attack the endline and then slip it back across and really anytime you should be keeping it on the ground, it shouldn’t be going in the air, unless you’re going for a cross and you can adjust in time.”
Along with Geise, Lombardi found success all night in net for Averill Park. It’s hard to not hear Lombardi directing her defense from the back but she was a consistent back bone for Averill Park not only in the semifinal, but all season.
“She’s huge, she’s great in practice too,” said Luskin. “She’s a hard working kid. A little bit old school in the way she can talk and communicate. Super tough. She’s the most fit kid on our team for sure.”
Lombardi’s only scary moment was a shot that hit two bars before bouncing away to safety.
Mohonasen outshot Averill Park 8-4 in the loss.
Averill Park’s offensive threat Meredith Gaylord had chances all night for the Warriors despite not posting a goal in the book by the end of the game. Gaylord on three separate occasions had chances to find the back of the net on free kicks from 30 yards out or further.
“I was trying to put it on frame and just kept on wanting my shot,” said Gaylord. “We were really close. We had some pressure up there and they came out good.”
Averill Park and Queensbury will meet at Stillwater Friday night. Stillwater High School also has a turf, just like Mohonasen. Averill Park regularly plays on grass and Monday was just their third or fourth game of the season on turf. The hope is to come into the championship comfortable handing the ball on turf.
“We’re not the most technical team to begin with, it’s pretty evident,” said Luskin. “Turf plays fast. We’re not necessarily used to it.”
“The turf plays a bigger factor. The bal moves a lot quicker. It’s not like grass where it is bouncing and there are divots in the ground, but the turf is actually bouncier than the grass,” said Lombardi. “I definitely have to be ready and go with what my initial step is.”
Friday night’s Section II, Class A Championship is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Burnt Hills rallies but just falls short in 4-3 loss to Queensbury in Class A semifinal
The Burnt Hills girl’s soccer team showed a lot of heart Monday night fighting and clawing their way back from a three goal deficit to lose 4-3 to Queensbury in the Class A semifinal at Mechanicville Monday.
“This is a really great team that was led by a lot of really great seniors,” said Burnt Hills Head Coach Marisah Boucher Monday night. “It’s a very young team. It’s a fighting team. It’s a gritty team. We came out a little bit later than we really wanted to today.”
Burnt Hills’ goals in the loss were scored by Ella Blesi and Sam Torres. Blesi also assisted both of Torres’ goals.
Queensbury proved why they were the one seed with speed and athleticism. Queensbury took a 3-0 lead into halftime. Queensbury’s three goals in the first half were scored by Bayley and Brigid Duffey and Ava Stewart. Brigid Duffy’s goal was on a penalty kick in the 14th minute.
“We knew getting those initial goals would be very important,” said Brigid Duffy.
Burnt Hills responded with a PK of their own to begin the second half. Blesi was the triumphant Spartan in that instance. Queensbury responded seven minutes later with another Stewart goal.
Burnt Hills’ comeback began to mount at 5:34 when Torres scored her first goal thanks to a centering cross that was mishandled and allowed her to boot the ball into the back of the net. Torres immediately grabbed the ball and sprinted to the center dot to make sure no celebrations would waste the precious time still remaining on the clock.
Torres scored her second of the night with a boot to the right side of the cage past the outstretched fingers of Queensbury goalkeeper Emma Lemery
Burnt Hills ran out of time as Queensbury still led 4-3 with big red 0’s on the scoreboard where the time used to be. Burnt Hills outshot Queensbury 18-7. .
Queensbury and Averill Park play Friday night at Stillwater High School. The match will start at 7 p.m.
“I think we have a really bright future ahead of us,” said Boucher. “The seniors this year led a path to show them what we are and how hard we work.”
“They are going to be good competition,” said Brigid Duffy of Averill Park. “We played them in the sectional semifinals in 2019. It’s going to be a really good game. Hopefully we can get our first sectional title.”
Queensbury and Averill Park played to a 1-1 tie on September 20 at Averill Park High School.
Queensbury High doesn’t have a girl’s soccer sectional title banner yet. This will be the first time they are in a sectional championship.
“I would say our team chemistry and the effort we put in,” said Duffy. “We are seen as more of the underdog. I feel like they don’t see us coming but we are going to be there.”
"can" - Google News
October 26, 2021 at 09:51AM
https://ift.tt/3EiKOFE
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER: Averill Park holds off Mohonasen and Burnt Hills can not comeback against Queensbury to set stage for Class A final - Troy Record
"can" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2NE2i6G
https://ift.tt/3d3vX4n
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER: Averill Park holds off Mohonasen and Burnt Hills can not comeback against Queensbury to set stage for Class A final - Troy Record"
Post a Comment