By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — It may seem out of place for a four-time regional champion to feel the need to prove itself, but that’s the mindset of the Spencerport girls’ soccer team.
The Rangers will take the field Saturday at SUNY Cortland in the NYSPHSAA Class A semifinals. It’s familiar surroundings for Jamie Schneider’s squad which will be looking to advance and win its third state title in the past four years.
Just don’t expect the Rangers to show any signs of complacency.
“They want to prove it and win championships on their own,” Schneider said of his current group. “The previous teams have done that too.”
After graduating a dozen players from last year’s team including current Division I student-athletes Erin Coykendall, Natalie Choate, Olivia Wall and Leah Wengender, many expected the Rangers to drop off from past success.
The current group has used those doubts as motivation.
“I think it’s a natural thing when you lose a good portion of your roster and a good portion of the quality of your roster,” Schneider said when asked if his team plays with a chip on its collective shoulder. “It’s start with the girls taking it on themselves. We just have to manage it to make sure it’s a healthy one. You can have a certain degree of that, but you have to be balanced in all aspects.”
Spencerport will play Pearl River (I) in the semis. The last time the two teams met was the 2017 state final game which ended in a 2-2 draw, and the opposing squads earned co-champions.
Spencerport (No.3 NYSSWA) brings a record of 15-3-2 into the weekend. After dropping a pair of contests late in the regular season to AA contenders Penfield and Webster Thomas, the Rangers marched through Class A capping their run with a 2-nil shutout of Pittsford Mendon in the finals.
They advanced to the state final four with a win over Section VI champion Grand Island.
“Any time you get to compete and win a sectional championship, a regional championship and get back to states, the overwhelming feeling is pride in the team and what they’ve put together.”
A victory on Saturday and Spencerport will take on the Shoreham-Wading River (XI) vs. Jamesville-Dewitt (III) winner in Sunday’s championship game. J-D ended Spencerport’s season a year ago.
“As far as the success over the years, we just try to stay in the moment. Proud of the past but stay in the moment. Hopefully, we have our best performances in front of us.”
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