By TIM IRVING
Brockport girls soccer hadn’t played a game in a week heading into the Class A2 girls soccer quarterfinals against Honeoye Falls-Lima.
“We tried to replicate game-speed in practice because we had such a long layoff,” coach Matt Davis said. “You never know what you’re going to get when you get out here and Sectionals is a different beast, any given night.”
Instead of coming out flat, the Blue Devils attacked all night, topping the Cougars 5-0 to advance to the semifinals.
After spending the better part of 25 minutes camped in the HF-L defensive end in the first half, Brockport broke through when Paige Taylor made the run up the left side and fed Nadia Nealon for her 13th goal of the year.
Six minutes later, the Blue Devils still attacking, Ella Fadale got to the right side goal line and sent a short cross to Jasmyn Miller who roofed the ball under the cross bar for a 2-0 lead that carried into half.
International soccer player Maria Karipidis was forced into more of a defensive role, primarily due to Brockport’s midfield play.
“Between Nadia, Ella and Maeve Grady, we won a lot of 50-50 balls and that’s key to keeping it off a quality player’s feet is getting it first yourself and maintain your possession, “ Davis said.
The Cougars moved players around to push Karipidis forward and it nearly paid off when she got between defenders early in the second half but Emma Sodoma made a sliding kick save.
A minute later, Maija Young carried the ball up the middle and fed Miller on the right side. Her shot looked headed towards the left post but Taylor flew in and knocked the ball home for a 3-0 advantage.
“Speed in girls soccer is key and Paige has a lot of it and we have some other girls who complement it too, “ Davis said.
Brockport added a couple of more goals as Natalie Cuzzupoli took a feed from Taylor and scored in front and Young capped the scoring with a rocket from the top of the box.
The third-seeded Blue Devils (12-4-1) now renew a rivalry that has been brewing across soccer and basketball for the last few years, when they face number two Pittsford Mendon in the semifinals. Brockport lost both match-ups to the Vikings this season by one goal.
Davis says, “At the end of the night, it’s gonna be a hard-fought battle between two really good teams and we’ll see what happens.”
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