Evening Sun Report
Field Hockey
Greene 1, Afton 0
AFTON – After finishing the regular season with a .500 record, Greene is back in the Section finals with a chance to win an eighth straight Section IV title.
Nearly a week removed from its opening-round playoff win over Sidney, Greene topped Afton by a single goal for the second time this season, and it scored the winning tally with just 16 seconds left in regulation.
Katherine Klecha went top shelf on a penalty stroke hitting the upper left netting to beat the Crimson Knights keeper. “There was no decision process at all on who would take the stroke,” said Greene coach Sue Carlin.
Carlin said her team had not practiced penalty strokes in the week of preparation for Tuesday’s game, and nearly had Klecha – and others – attempt some pre-game strokes just in case this very situation arose. “After the captains met at midfield before the game, I was about to have Katherine come back to practice (a stroke), but then I decided not to do it,” Carlin said.
Klecha, a longtime player on the varsity and a starter on last year’s state championship team, didn’t need the practice.
Klecha was part of the play that led to the penalty stroke. Kristy Haskell inserted a penalty corner to Klecha, who had the ball deflect to her right. Klecha drove forward and ripped a hard shot on goal that squirted behind Afton keeper Tori Went. As the ball dribbled behind the goalie and toward the goal line, an Afton defender reached down and made a save with her hands. The play saved a goal, but by rule, earned Greene a penalty stroke.
Greene hosted Afton in the regular season six weeks ago in a contest where the Crimson Knights actually outshot Greene in a one-goal loss. This time around, Greene had a decided advantage in shots on goal (9-2) led by the offensive attacks of Tiffany Borst, reserve Eliza Whittaker, and Klecha.
“We made some errors today where we didn’t have our sticks down, but overall, I thought we played well,” Carlin said.
Greene meets Whitney Point Saturday at 7 p.m. at Greene High School for the Class C championship. The Golden Eagles won the last meeting between the two schools on Oct. 15, 4-0. “Whitney Point is a great team and we’ll have to bring our ‘A game,’” Carlin said. “Offensively, we’re doing some better things. I hope we can get off to a fast start, pressure them, and give ourselves some chances.”
Summary
(0-0 at half)
Goals-assists: (G) Katherine Klecha, 1-0 (Penalty stroke)
Shots-corners: (G) 9-11, (A) 2-5.
Saves: (G) Julia Amell, 2, (A) Tori Lent, 8.
Cross Country
Jeffrey, Murray earn all-league status
OWEGO - Norwich seniors Robert Jeffrey and Matt Murray earned all-STAC East/Central all-star status based on their performances at the STAC meet, Saturday at Pheasant Hill Country Club in Owego.
Among 118 runners entered, Jeffrey placed 27th in 17:56 and Murray was 37th timing 18:15. Norwich placed 12th out of 16 teams, said head coach Shaun Horan.
The Tornado girls ran incomplete with only four finishers. Junior Martha Clemens took 52nd out of 106 runners clocking 23:24 over the five-kilometer layout. Below are times for Norwich competitors:
