By DAVID DOBRASZ
SANBORN, N.Y. — The underdog run continues, as the Keshequa girls’ soccer team (15-6-0) knocked off its second straight sectional champion, this time a 3-0 win over Section VI’s Ellicottville Eagles in the New York State Class D Far West Regional, Friday night at Niagara-Wheatfield High School.
The Indians claimed their first regional title since 2012.
Ava Thayer scored two goals and assisted on a goal by Braelyn Isaman in the first half to lead the Indians.
Head coach Patrice Forrester had plenty to say about her sophomore star.
“When kids connect with her and she connects with them, she can just find the back of the net.”
Thayer opened the scoring at 7:15 of the first half when she redirected the ball with her right foot off a Kelsey Davis corner kick. The young attacker assisted on Isaman’s strike that came at 18:03 when Isaman found the ball in a group of two Eagles’ defenders and finished with her left foot.
7’ BAM! Ava Thayer connects on Keshequa’s second corner kick opportunity of the game. Kelsey Davis gets the assist on the play. Keshequa 1-0. @SecVAthletics pic.twitter.com/V28sH8ohMu
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 4, 2022
“I just ran to the ball, turned my hips and kicked it,” Thayer said of her first goal
The Indians’ top scorer appeared once more on the score sheet in 48th minute when she received a through-pass from junior Libby Benner, before burying the ball in the far left, on a shot that gave keeper Abby Chudy no chance. Thayer now has 17 goals and 10 assists (4 goals and 2 assists in the postseason) for the season, including the golden goal in a 2-1 win over No. 2 Genesee Valley-Belfast to claim the team’s seventh sectional title.
Two goals in the game were called back, the biggest being an Isaman tap in off a rebound from Benner’s shot in the 21st minute due to an offsides call. The disallowed goal would have made the game 3-0 just past the midway point of the first half.
Keshequa (No. 4 NYSSWA Class D) has won four straight games and outscored opponents 12-1 during the stretch. The team earned wins over No. 4 Avoca/Prattsburgh (4-0), No. 1 Fillmore in overtime (1-0) and No. 2 Genesee Valley-Belfast (2-1) to claim Section V Class D1 title, before defeating Class D2 champion Northstar Christian, 2-0 on the way to a fourth regional bid since 2010.
19’ Left-footed strike from Braelyn Isaman gives Keshequa a 2-0 lead. Ava Thayer gets the assist on the play. @SecVAthletics pic.twitter.com/W5ZO4Fu42h
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 4, 2022
The team advanced to the NYS semifinals for their first time since 2012, when the team defeated Holland in overtime on November 11th as part of Class C. The 2012 Indians went on to the NYS finals.
“They’re just really resilient. They’re great kids,” Forrster said. “We kept telling them that they had a lot of potential, they just needed to believe in themselves.
“Anything is possible. Everyone wants to be at that level, and we’re just going to take it one game at a time and enjoy it right now.”
The Indians lost three straight games to Haverling, York/Pavilion and Caledonia-Mumford back in September, and suffered two consecutive losses before making the run.
“They play hard. They practice hard. We’re not going to change a lot. We’re just going to go in there and dig in our heels, and play some good soccer,” Forrester commented about her team. “They love dancing…and we just keep right on dancing.”
Sophomore keeper, Isabella Hugi made five saves in the shutout win, bringing her season total to 85 saves.
Keshequa held a 9-3 advantage in corner kicks, including six for the Indians in the first half.
For Ellicottville, Chudy made 11 saves, including turning aside multiple high-danger scoring chances. The junior finished the season with 119 saves with 17 goals allowed.
Keshequa will next play the winner of Cincinnatus (III)/Schenevus (IV) in the NYS Class D semifinals next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at Homer High School in Homer, NY.
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