by Julie Luciano
Just like the boys team the Hoosick Falls Girls Soccer team came back for revenge against Schuylerville. Earlier in the season the girls lost to the Horses 4-2 and weren’t about to let it happen again. Both teams came out strong, but shortly into the game Schuylerville’s Nicole Senecal scored a goal. Not too long after that Jordyn Haynes added a goal with a little help from Maritza Gonzalez. Tied 1-1, Meaghan McKee added the first of her three goals of the night, and Grace Delurey had her first assist. The Panthers were up 2-1 near the end of the first half when all of the sudden the Horses’ Courtney Pierce scored to tie it up.
Throughout the second half the ball was back and forth, but no numbers were put on the board. With a few minutes left Brooke Sargood came bolting down the sideline to find McKee right in front of the goal. Sargood crossed the ball right to McKee’s foot, and she finished the ball to put the Panthers up 3-2. Suddenly, Senecal scored again to tie it up and force the game to go into overtime.
Overtime during league play consists of two ten minute periods. When the Panthers were nine and a half minutes into the first half of overtime, McKee dribbled up the middle and slowly passed the ball into the far corner of the Horses’ goal. The Panthers ended the first period of overtime up 4-3. All they had to do now was shut down Schuylerville for the rest of the game. The Panthers tried to slow down the play whenever possible.
Coach Tom Husser and Assistant Coach Brittany Pine recently decided to change the Panthers’ formation. “The change has opened up the field quite a bit; we are able to take more touches and have better passes. Instead of just whacking the ball we possess it,” Husser said about the new formation. “The win has now moved us up to second place right behind Hoosic Valley.” The girls continue their play home against Stillwater on Thursday, October 7, at 4:15 at the George Helft Soccer Complex.
There will be a dedication on Sunday, October 17, at 4 pm at the George Helft Soccer Fields in Hoosick Falls. Jim Cormier will be the Guest Speaker. The rain date is October 24.