Girls’ Soccer
Greene 1, Unadilla Valley 0
GREENE – The final message Greene coach Brandy Stone delivered after the Midstate Athletic Conference championship game was that the Trojans were back, and will be back for several more years.
One year removed from a four-win season, Greene captured the first MAC girls’ soccer title edging Unadilla Valley.
It was a rematch of an early-season game won by the Storm, 1-0, and this one appeared headed toward overtime. “I thought we were going to overtime and then sudden victory,” Stone said. “It was a very even match.”
Unadilla Valley had a 10-6 advantage in shots on goal, but it was the Trojans who had the higher quality attempts on goal. UV keeper Jordan Anderson made a one-handed deflection of a shot by Paige Wilcox from point-blank range in the first half, and Anderson came up big again with 14 minutes left in the game diving to her left to save another shot from Wilcox.
For Wilcox, the scoring leader for Greene this season, the third time would be the charm, and her tally came in the game’s waning moments. Junior Melanie McBride pushed the ball up the middle of the field, and sent a perfect through pass to Wilcox. Wilcox got behind the UV defense, and fired a hard shot into the left corner.
“That last goal was just a hustle play,” Stone said. “Everybody hustled the whole game and never gave up. I am very proud of our girls, and UV played really hard.”
Unadilla Valley was strong in the midfield and had many fine set-ups that were not finished. Of the 10 shots, few were threatening for Greene keeper Shannon Gregory, who made six saves in the shutout.
“Midway through the first half, I said this was going to be a one-nothing game,” said UV coach Janelle Ross. “I felt that way the last time we played. Whoever put in the first goal was going to be the winner.”
The Trojans (12-3-1) drew the number five seed for the upcoming Section IV tournament. After a first-round bye, Greene plays at Odessa-Montour on Oct. 30. “It’s great to win the league’s first tile, and this group worked so hard
Summary
(0-0 at the half)
Goals-assists: (G) Paige Wilcox, 1-0; Mel McBride, 0-1.
Shots-corners: (G) 6-4, (UV) 10-4.
Saves: (G) Shannon Gregory 6, (UV) Jordan Anderson, 4.
Boys’ Soccer
Greene 3, Unatego 0
OTEGO – Greene won the first of two division playoff games Thursday night, and needs to beat Walton on Saturday to claim the MAC Division One crown.
Less than two weeks after Unatego beat the Trojans, Greene jumped out to a 2-0 halftime lead, withstood Unatego’s early second-half pressure, and added an insurance goal to polish off the win.
“We put ourselves in this situation, and now we need to prove we should have been the division champions from the get-go,” said Greene coach Rick Tallman, whose club finished in a three-way tie for the division title with the Spartans and Warriors. “Unatego and Walton are both seeded above us in sectionals, so that was more motivation to fuel us.”
Alex Driscoll scored twice for Greene, the first one six minutes into play. Corey Dietrich upped the lead to two 13 minutes later getting an assist from Driscoll, and the insurance tally game 15:49 into the second half.
“Unatego came back us real hard to start the second half, and we were able to hold it together,” Tallman said.
Greene plays at Walton Saturday at 2 p.m.
Summary
(2-0 at half)
Goals-assists: (G) Alex Driscoll, 2-1, Corey Dietrich, 1-0, Alex Leone, 0-1.
Shots-corners: (G) 15-8, (U) 8-3.
Saves: (G) Curtis Richards, 5, (U) Alex White, 5.
