by Bea Peterson
When the Hoosick Falls Girls Soccer Team headed to Cortland as one of the final four vying for the NY State Soccer Championship last weekend, they were ready. Actually, they were looking forward more to the Saturday game than they were the finals. On Saturday they were playing Friends Academy, the team they shared the Championship title with last year. There would be no sharing this year.
[private]The matchup against Friends Academy was 0-0 at the half. As Gail Delurey said, “The team found its groove in the second half.” Grace Delurey was the first to score with an outside shot. She was followed by Jordyn Haynes who netted two goals to seal the deal. Important assists came from Alice Hayden, Grace Delurey and Mackenzie Hinchliffe. Gail said, “The entire team played with passion and tenacity.” Hannah Fricke had three saves and was recognized as goalie of the game. Jordyn Haynes was awarded the Game Sportsmanship Award. Coach Tom Husser said the girls had been waiting all year for this game and Friends Academy was a good team. Panthers 3 – Friends 0.
Championship Game
The State Finals were held at the SUNY Cortland campus on Sunday morning. Section II Hoosick Falls Panthers (21-2) faced Section V Kesheque (20-1). Coach Husser said, “One parent described it best saying playing them was like playing ourselves. They had a good keeper and good defense. It was an even match.” Gail Delurey noted, “From end to end, the defense, midfield and offense played with heart and soul.”
The Panthers’ break came midway in the second half when Allie Martin served up a beautiful pass for Jordyn Haynes to pop in the net. This was the only goal of the game – a Championship goal.
Overall the Kesheque goalie had eight saves, and Hannah Fricke had nine. Fricke again earned the honor of NY State Goalie of the Game. Rachel Pine had a stellar performance and was awarded Player of the Game. Gail Delurey said, “The entire squad deserves mentioning. It takes an entire team playing their absolute best to bring home such an honor.”
The Lady Panthers also received the Sportsmanship Award. “That speaks volumes on what kind of ladies they truly are. We are so proud of them,” said Gail Delurey.
No school has won back to back titles since 2000. And it is only the ninth time in State history that a girls soccer team has won back to back Championships.
Record Setting Year
It has been a record setting year for the team in several areas. Grace Delurey set a school record for most career goals (67) and most career assists. Midseason Coach Husser celebrated his 200th win with the Hoosick Falls team. He is modest about it. “I just got lucky,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of good players over the years.” He has also garnered three State Championships in
12 seasons. Husser said he was surprised and pleased when he was one of the last to leave the field Sunday to find ten or more alumni there to greet him. One of them was from the 2001 team. “It almost brought tears to my eyes to have them there for the Championship game. It was really neat,” he said.
Next season will be a rebuilding one. Husser is losing eight seniors, six of them starters. “Nobody is going to cry for us,” he said. “We’ve had a good run.” The team still has some great upcoming players, so Husser doubts they will have a down year next year.
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