By PAUL GOTHAM
WEBSTER, N.Y. — For the first time this season, the Spencerport girls’ soccer team saw a crooked number on the opposing team’s side of the scoreboard. That Brighton found the back of the net twice in the first 40 minutes might have been enough to shake a lesser team.
But not the Spencerport Rangers.
Aleena Solano and Alyssa Hackett scored two goals apiece while Lily Brongo collected four assists as Spencerport claimed its sixth straight sectional title with a 5-2 victory over Brighton in the Class A1 title game.
“It’s the same feeling every time,” said Hackett a senior who has played on four sectional champions. “It doesn’t get old at all. It’s amazing. It’s crazy to feel it. Just knowing that you’re going on, winning something for your school. There’s no other feeling like it.”
Hackett’s second goal of the day came with 19:35 remaining in the contest and gave the Rangers breathing room at 4-2.
“Everybody worked for each other today,” Hackett added. “Everybody on the field to the bench we were all 100 percent into it. That made the difference.”
From the opening kickoff, the game looked like it would follow past scripts.
Sophomore Aleena Solano ran down a lead from Brongo and finished less than four minutes into the contest.
Spencerport had momentum and pushed forward on the Brighton goal.
But the Bruins didn’t go away easily.
Sophomore Izzy Alexandre leveled the match four minutes later when she finished inside the six-yard box.
Hackett and Solano added tallies for a 3-1 lead. Again, the Bruins had a response as Maggie Cregan scored for a 3-2 game heading into halftime.
32:02 GOAL Izzy Alexandre levels the match for @brightonbruins 1-1 pic.twitter.com/eFEM0TuURN
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 30, 2021
The Rangers had allowed two goals in their previous 14 contests, and Brighton had matched that in minutes.
“The finals are just a lot of emotions,” Spencerport head coach Jamie Schneider said. “You never know what kind of performances are going to come out.”
9:59 GOAL MAggie Cregan gets one back for @brightonbruins @Rangers_GSOC 3-2 pic.twitter.com/qgklLtTWP1
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 30, 2021
The Rangers, though, played to form for the remaining 40 minutes.
“At halftime, it was like ‘we just got to leave it on the field,'” Brongo said of the discussion among the team. “We agreed to play for each other no matter if we were on the field or on the bench. Just give it your all for the person next to you. It was that mindset.”
28:51 GOAL Lily Brongo runs down a Bre DeHond lead and plays a ball into the 6 that Alyssa Hackett finishes. @Rangers_GSOC 2-1. pic.twitter.com/OQuGjMtyyG
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 30, 2021
The Rangers were able to keep Cregan, Brighton’s leading scorer, in check for the remaining 40 minutes.
“Great awareness and having someone near her always,” Schneider said of the junior forward who scored four goals in the Bruins semi-final win over Churchville. “We saw what she did against Churchville and what she’s done all year. Very good player. It’s awareness and limit her time and space. Don’t let her get involved, make her play negative and go back.”
Bre DeHond put the game out of reach with 15:55 remaining in the game. The senior forward nodded in her team-leading 25th goal of the season off a Brongo corner kick.
The win was also the 200th in Schneider’s career.
“It’s just fun to be a part of,” the 18th-year head coach said. “It’s fun to be a part of great teams and a great community with great people.”
Spencerport will play the Class A2 champion Pittsford Mendon in Tuesday’s regional qualifier. With the exception of last year when the state tournament was cancelled due to Covid-19 precautions, the regional game has been a part of the fall for Spencerport.
“It’s always a new group,” Schneider said. “It’s always fun. Their competitiveness just rubs off on you. You just want to keep it going in the right direction. It never gets old.”
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