After Tuesday’s game with Unadilla Valley, the Oxford Blackhawks’ head coach Kathleen Cragle honored her 14 seniors for the 2019 senior in the gym of the high school. Pictured with their family members from left to right are: Emily Barrows, Zaya Friedel, Alexis Kohlhepp, Shanee Baker-Bush, Lillianna Gonzalez, Taylor Moore, Caitlyn Quigley, Elizabeth Ryan, Alison Vigus, Makayla Whaley, Sylvia Yates, Trinity Vargas and Logan O’Brien. (Submitted Photo)

Oxford honors 14 seniors after game

OXFORD – With the Midstate Athletic Conference Division-2 winner coming down to the final game of the regular season between Oxford and Unadilla Valley Wednesday night, the Lady Storm and the Lady Blackhawks battled through the wet, windy conditions to keep the game at a one goal difference in favor of UV at the end of the first half.

However, as the wind and rain picked up, so did the Storm’s offensive pressure as Unadilla Valley came away with the 5-2 win. The divisional victory now sends UV into the MAC championship against Unatego Saturday morning at Wright National Soccer Campus in Oneonta at 10 a.m.

The Lady Storm opened the scoring with Kyleigh George starting the play carrying the ball down the right side of the field. Once she had time to turn and fire a shot attempt, George did and sent is into the far post for the 1-0 lead with 23 minutes left in the first half.

The score remained the same through the rest of the first half as both teams were battling the conditions while fending off the each others offensive attacks.

Out of the halftime break, UV took a 2-0 lead after Kandence York was able to net one for her team. Rifling a shot attempt in one direction, York’s ball went off the back of a Blackhawk player chasing down the play. Oxford’s keeper Lexi Kohlhepp was anticipating the ball to go one way but as the deflection happened, she was unable to make a play on it.

Three minutes later, the Blackhawks cut the lead back to one goal as Kaylin Teft sent shot in from outside the 18 yard box and it went over the hands of a stretched Meegan White – Unadilla Valley’s goalie – and in.

With a minute coming off the clock, the game became tied at 2-2 as the Storm’s defensive miscue resulted in Oxford’s second goal of the game and the equalizer on the pitch.

As a shot at the MAC championship was on the line, UV’s senior George wasn’t about the miss the chance for her third straight trip to the title game. George went on to score the third goal of the game with a ball into the upper corner on the right side of the goal.