Facing the #1 seed in Section 2, defending state champions and currently the number one ranked Class C school in New York state, the #4 seeded Hoosick Falls Panthers (12-6-2) were certainly the underdogs. In the end, the Panthers lost the game, but not before putting the Schoharie Lady Indians in a position they had rarely found themselves all season.
Schoharie (18-0) scored in the first two minutes of the game. The Schoharie girl got an open shot on goal and took advantage of it. It was a momentary setback for the Panthers. For much of the middle portion of the first half the Panthers dominated.
For about fifteen minutes, much of the game was played in the Schoharie defensive end of the field. Taylor Mann scored two goals during this time and the Panthers had the Indians on their heels. Playing while behind was a position Schorarie was not used to working with. Shoharie scored before the half to tie the game at 2-2.
In the second half, Schoharie played like the top team. Most of the play was in the Panther defensive end of the field. Scoharie scored two goals during this time to take a 4-2 lead. They were far from easy goals for the Indians, but they went on the board.
The Panthers never let up and scrapped their way into another goal of their own when Phoebe Thomson headed the ball into the goal with about ten minutes left to play. Now down one at 4-3 with enough time left to score again, the Panther defense held the Indians scoreless while creating their own chances to score. They did everything they could but it just wasn’t to be.
Schoharie played Stillwater (17-2) in the Section 2 Class C championship game on Wednesday.