LADY TORNADOES BRING HOME FIRST EVER NYS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
2012 New York State Class “D” Girls Soccer Champions – Poland Tornadoes
Jeff Pexton-MHTS/PGI Photo
The Poland Lady Tornadoes earned the school’s first ever Class “D” New York State Championship in girl’s soccer, by defeating the Chateaugay Lady Bulldogs by a score of 3-2 in double overtime, today at SUNY Cortland.
Junior midfielder Tara Siegle’s dramatic (and simply majestic) shot from 31 yards away sailed over the out stretched hands of Chateaugay keeper Makayla Fleury and just under the cross bar for what proved to be the game winner, with 5:03 remaining in the second overtime period.
Poland’s Tara Siegle (16) races up field against Chateaugay’s Hannah Cooke (1) in early going.
It was the third time in the game that the Tornadoes took a one goal advantage, but this would be the only time they maintained it, keeping the Bulldogs heavy offensive pressure at bay the rest of the way to bring home the State Championship.
Today’s game was the polar opposite of the Tornadoes 2-1 semi-final win yesterday over Jasper-Troupsburg.
Yesterday, Poland was essentially outplayed by their opponent the entire game, yet were able to ride the shoulders of keeper Courtney Green into today’s final match.
Today, on the other foot, Poland outplayed Chateaugay, the State’s #1 ranked team coming into today, with a record of (21-0).
Today, under brilliant sunshine and mild temperatures, the Tornadoes won almost every 50/50 ball, hunted down loose balls ahead of the Bulldogs and booted virtually everything away from their own goal all afternoon long, yet the two teams remained tied at 2-2 at the end of regulation.
After a scoreless first half, Makayla Blumenstock got Poland on the board first again today, scoring her 37th goal of her freshman season to give the girls in white a 1-0 lead, bringing the entire population of Poland, who was seated in the SUNY Cortland Stadium stands, to their collective feet and into one unanimous roar.
Just 17 seconds later, Chateaugay’s fans , who made the trek south from their quiet little town that sits on the Canadian border, had plenty of reason to celebrate themselves.
Poland’s fans cheer the school’s first ever State Girls Soccer Championship.
Katie Bech took a cross from her Sister Alexis and hit a perfect ball past Poland Keeper Courtney Green to tie this match up at 1-1 with 15:24 to go in regular time.
Tara Siegle’s first goal of the game came with just under six minutes to go in regular time to make it 2-1 in favor of the Section III and Central Region Champions, but that lead would also be short lived.
Chateaugay’s Brianna Cook took another nifty pass from Alexis Bech and bounced a shot under Green to tie the score at 2-2, with under a minute to go in regular time.
As per NYSPHAA playoff rules, girl’s soccer games that are tied at the end of 80 minutes of regulation then go to two 10 minute non-sudden death overtime periods.
If the score is still tied after that, the teams are then to play two 5 minute non-sudden death overtime periods. If that doesn’t break the tie then the teams move on to penalty kicks.
Poland’s (# 2) Briana Goggin looks for a clear path to the ball.
Both teams were completely exhausted after regulation, following grueling 1 goal victories for each team in yesterday’s semi-final matches.
Today’s first overtime period saw both teams play very close to the vest, not wanting to give either team a break to get the go ahead goal.
The long lead kicks and throw in’s intended to get behind the defenders were left behind with regular time.
Neither team was able to put in a goal in the first overtime period, so after a 5 minute intermission, it was on to OT number two.
The first five minutes of the second overtime were played about as tentative as the first ten, but then it was number 16, Tara Siegle for Poland who found herself moving the ball just outside the 30 yard mark in the Chateaugay end.
With none of her teammates open, Siegle calmly booted the ball high and on line with the Lady Bulldogs goal.
Keeper Makayla Fleury ranged high for the shot, but it was just out of her reach,and the ball sailed barely under the cross bar and into the back of the goal to give Poland a 3-2 lead, with 5:03 to play in the second overtime.
Chateaugay applied steady pressure on the Poland goal over the last 5 minutes, but the Tornadoes stingy defense held the line and Poland (literally all of it) erupted on the field and off as they claimed their first ever girl’s soccer State Championship.
Tornadoes midfielder Paige Sullivan (12) works around Chateaugay’s Katie Beach (7).
Courtney Green had yet another solid day in goal, stopping 6 of the 8 balls she faced for the winners. Makayla Fleury made 10 saves for Chateaugay, which finished its season at (21-1).
Poland’s Mikayla Blumenstock was named the State Final Four’s Most Valuable Player. Poland completed a remarkable season at (21-1).
My Hometown Sports wishes to congratulate the Poland Girls Soccer team, coach Tom Basel, as well as the entire Poland Community which came out in force this weekend, on your State Championship!
Poland 3 Chateaugay 2 2OT
Box Score
1 2 OT OT Final
Chateaugay 0 2 0 0 2
Poland 0 2 0 1 3
Poland’s Shelby Ossont (15) battles half of the Chateaugay offense late in the second overtime to help preserve the one goal lead.
Tornadoes keeper Courtney Green came up huge again today and was named the Most Outstanding Goalie for the State Final Four.
