CICERO - Fate: That's how Morrisville-Eaton left wing Kristie DeGroat described her game-winning goal against Weedsport in the Section III, Class D field hockey championship game at Cicero-North Syracuse High School on Wednesday.
Jason Rearick / The Citizen
Weedsport's Jessica Spingler reacts after a 2-1 double-overtime loss to Morrisville-Eaton in the Section III, Class D title game Wednesday evening at Cicero-North Syracuse.
Weedsport's Jessica Spingler reacts after a 2-1 double-overtime loss to Morrisville-Eaton in the Section III, Class D title game Wednesday evening at Cicero-North Syracuse.
Fateful, because DeGroat wasn't scheduled to be on the field in the second overtime period. DeGroat replaced teammate Amanda Verne, who was injured after getting hit in the face late in the first seven-on-seven.
Morrisville-Eaton was on the attack from the beginning of the extra session. Less than three minutes in, M-E was awarded a penalty corner. After a scramble in front of the goal, DeGroat pushed the ball past Weedsport goalie Megan Henderson to give M-E a 2-1 victory and its third straight Section III title.
“She totally deserves a goal, but things happen” DeGroat said of Verne, whom she just dedicated the goal to. “It's what happens in the sport.”
It was a tough loss for Weedsport, who scored first in the first half and dominated the first overtime.
“I thought at the beginning of the first half, both teams came out a little flat,” said Weedsport coach Theresa Leonardi. “I thought our team really picked it up. In the second half, we knew they would come out strong and they did. They got that goal and for a while they dominated. We took another time out and we seemed to get together, we seemed to play even, or even us a little up. After that I thought the first overtime was all us, we just could not get the ball in.”
Weedsport had three shots in the first seven-on-seven, but all were stopped by M-E goalie Sara Bertella.
“She made a couple of awesome saves,” said M-E coach Patty Vaughan. “I split my goalies, that's how we plan it. Sara plays the second half so she can play in an overtime. She's a little more aggressive in the circle. Sam (Maitland) does the first half and any strokes #) Sara is terrible at strokes. It just has worked out perfectly. It really has.”
M-E took control in the second session, mirroring what had happened in regulation. Weedsport played well in the first half, dominating M-E. Senior Casey Longo scored the first goal with 9:13 left in remaining before the break.
“We were pretty pumped up,” said Weedsport defender Jessica James. “We were ready for the score to go back to 0-0 and do it again. Keep fighting, keep pushing, keep the intensity up.”
It was only the second time M-E had been behind all season (the other was to Clinton) and only the sixth goal it allowed.
In the second half, M-E had an early spark.
After controlling the ball for the half's first five minutes, Katie Bataille found Sarah Dunn to tie it up at 1-1.
“We reminded each other about last's year Section III final (when) we were behind 1-0 at the half,” Vaughan said. “We just came out with a little more enthusiasm I think. I don't know, I don't know what it was. I think it was just probably knowing that the game was on the line.”
Soon after the goal, at the 21:37 mark Leonardi called a time out, then a second with 14:13 remaining. With 12 minutes left, Weedsport was awarded three consecutive penalty corners, but were unable to get a shot off.
M-E had a chance to end it with less than a minute left when it was awarded two corners.
Henderson stopped a M-E shot to send the game into overtime, when DeGroat eventually scored.
It was another close loss for Weedsport, who was eliminated last year by Morrisville-Eaton in the semifinals in double overtime.
However, it was the first time Weedsport had been in the title game this decade. Weedsport's last Section III title came in 1995.
“We feel really good about being here, but it just makes it all the more harder to lose,” Saladin said.
Saladin and fellow co-captain James reflected on the 2005 season.
“It was a great season,” Saladin said. “In the middle we were a little down, but I think it helped us, and I think we were stronger because of it.”
“It's been a great season,” James said. “It's my senior year, and I'm going to miss these girls like they wouldn't believe. We had the ups and downs that come with every season. It's been a great year. We've got a great team.”
Morrisville-Eaton was on the attack from the beginning of the extra session. Less than three minutes in, M-E was awarded a penalty corner. After a scramble in front of the goal, DeGroat pushed the ball past Weedsport goalie Megan Henderson to give M-E a 2-1 victory and its third straight Section III title.
“She totally deserves a goal, but things happen” DeGroat said of Verne, whom she just dedicated the goal to. “It's what happens in the sport.”
It was a tough loss for Weedsport, who scored first in the first half and dominated the first overtime.
“I thought at the beginning of the first half, both teams came out a little flat,” said Weedsport coach Theresa Leonardi. “I thought our team really picked it up. In the second half, we knew they would come out strong and they did. They got that goal and for a while they dominated. We took another time out and we seemed to get together, we seemed to play even, or even us a little up. After that I thought the first overtime was all us, we just could not get the ball in.”
Weedsport had three shots in the first seven-on-seven, but all were stopped by M-E goalie Sara Bertella.
“She made a couple of awesome saves,” said M-E coach Patty Vaughan. “I split my goalies, that's how we plan it. Sara plays the second half so she can play in an overtime. She's a little more aggressive in the circle. Sam (Maitland) does the first half and any strokes #) Sara is terrible at strokes. It just has worked out perfectly. It really has.”
M-E took control in the second session, mirroring what had happened in regulation. Weedsport played well in the first half, dominating M-E. Senior Casey Longo scored the first goal with 9:13 left in remaining before the break.
“We were pretty pumped up,” said Weedsport defender Jessica James. “We were ready for the score to go back to 0-0 and do it again. Keep fighting, keep pushing, keep the intensity up.”
It was only the second time M-E had been behind all season (the other was to Clinton) and only the sixth goal it allowed.
In the second half, M-E had an early spark.
After controlling the ball for the half's first five minutes, Katie Bataille found Sarah Dunn to tie it up at 1-1.
“We reminded each other about last's year Section III final (when) we were behind 1-0 at the half,” Vaughan said. “We just came out with a little more enthusiasm I think. I don't know, I don't know what it was. I think it was just probably knowing that the game was on the line.”
Soon after the goal, at the 21:37 mark Leonardi called a time out, then a second with 14:13 remaining. With 12 minutes left, Weedsport was awarded three consecutive penalty corners, but were unable to get a shot off.
M-E had a chance to end it with less than a minute left when it was awarded two corners.
Henderson stopped a M-E shot to send the game into overtime, when DeGroat eventually scored.
It was another close loss for Weedsport, who was eliminated last year by Morrisville-Eaton in the semifinals in double overtime.
However, it was the first time Weedsport had been in the title game this decade. Weedsport's last Section III title came in 1995.
“We feel really good about being here, but it just makes it all the more harder to lose,” Saladin said.
Saladin and fellow co-captain James reflected on the 2005 season.
“It was a great season,” Saladin said. “In the middle we were a little down, but I think it helped us, and I think we were stronger because of it.”
“It's been a great season,” James said. “It's my senior year, and I'm going to miss these girls like they wouldn't believe. We had the ups and downs that come with every season. It's been a great year. We've got a great team.”
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