By PAUL GOTHAM
WEBSTER, N.Y. — Winning a program’s first sectional title in seven years is one thing. Being able to accomplish that feat over one’s cross-town rival, well that just adds to the enjoyment.
Elena Barr connected on a free kick in the 56th minute with the match’s lone goal as the Pittsford Mendon girls claimed the 2021 Section V Class A2 championship with a 1-nil win over Pittsford Sutherland.
“It’s great to win a sectional title, but it’s even better when you get to beat Sutherland,” Mendon head coach Eric Pritchard said with a smile.
The two teams split a pair regular season meetings leading up to Saturday’s final played at Webster Schroeder High School.
“It’s a lot of pressure on the kids, and they feel it,” Pritchard noted. “You can see it in the way everyone was playing.
“In the first half, I thought we struggled with being in the moment. I thought they we were too nervous. Our touches were too far in front of us.”
Barr’s goal was the junior’s seventh of the season.
“I lined up the shot and looked to hit it over the wall,” Barr said of the attempt from just outside the 18-yard box. “That was my main goal. As soon as it went it, my mind went blank. I couldn’t believe it. I was so proud. Everybody worked their butts off to get here.”
56’ GOAL Elena Barr converts on the free kick to give @mendonsoccer a 1-nil lead. pic.twitter.com/orAs6sn5UH
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 30, 2021
The win was the sixth straight for Mendon (15-3-1) and the Vikings’ 10th shutout.
“In the second half, it slowed down a little bit for us,” Pritchard noted. “We were a little bit more in the moment. It’s just non-stop pressure because you don’t want to lose to your hometown rival.”
Mendon won the Class A1 title in 2014, the program’s second sectional championship in five years.
Saturday’s title is the 11th in program history.
“This group has been unbelievable this year,” Pritchard said. “They’ve been so supportive of each other. They get along great. They had so much fun throughout the season, and I’m just happy for them that they were able to achieve this.”
Sutherland (13-6-0) had won nine straight heading into Saturday’s final. Adam Palumbo’s squad recovered from a 2-4 start for a chance to win the program’s first title since 1994.
“It’s been a fun year,” Sutherland head coach Adam Palumbo said. “We started off a little shaky, but we got it together.”
“The whole goal this year was to break the cycle. When it comes to Sutherland-Mendon, you can throw records out the window. They’re two teams that are going to battle each other. for 80 minutes. It was a heckuva game.”
Mendon will play Class A1 champion Spencerport in the regional qualifier.
Leave a Reply