By PAUL GOTHAM
SANBORN, N.Y. — With a regional title hanging in the balance, Kathleen Fitzgerald had the clarity of mind to lean on the teachings of the Spencerport girls’ soccer staff.
And with that, the senior midfielder helped punch the Rangers’ ticket to the New York State Final Four.
Fitzgerald took advantage of a second-chance opportunity on a corner kick and connected on the eventual game winner as Spencerport defeated Williamsville East (VI), 2-1 in New York State Class A Far West Region action from Niagara-Wheatfield High School on Saturday.
“One of the main things our coaches preach to us is to just crash the box, get something on the goal,” Fitzgerald explained. “It was rebounded out. I was there, and shot it in the left corner. It worked out perfectly.”
Lindsay Lenhard initiated the play with a corner kick from the right flag. Lenhard lofted a service just outside the six-yard box that Isabella Fiorillo met with a header. Fiorillo’s nod looked destined for the back of the net.
“It’s almost like slow motion when I kicked the ball in,” Lenhard said of the service. “It’s going up in the air. It’s slow motion and then you see Isabella. You’re like ‘Yes!’ And then…ohh.'”
Kelly Carver made a sprawling save on the original shot. While the Williamsville East keeper was trying to recover on the play, though, Fitzgerald cut to the ball near post and found twine on the opposite post.
“Our coaches also preach ‘don’t let someone else do it; do it for yourself,'” Fitzgerald added. “I saw the ball, and I went right for it. I didn’t care who was in my way.”
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— Spencerport Rangers (@Ranger_Sports) November 5, 2022
With the victory, Spencerport clinched its sixth regional title in as many attempts. Only a pandemic has stood in the way of the blue and gold.
“It’s my senior year,” Fitzgerald said. “As a captain as a leader, I feel I need to take a lot of responsibility for the team. This one is different because I feel like we could definitely go all the way this year. I have a lot of confidence in this team.”
Spencerport had to dig out of an early hole. Williamsville East was able to push forward with early pressure and earned a penalty kick. Emily Woolingham converted on the opportunity in the 15th minute.
“We had to take a step back and relax,” Fitzgerald said of the early deficit. “We just had to be in this game right now and just think about what was going to happen here.”
Lenhard connected on the equalizer less than six minutes later when the sophomore put home a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box.
21’ Lindsay Lenhard connects on a free kick for the equalizer. @Rangers_GSOC 1 Williamsville East 1 pic.twitter.com/xianJRA2iL
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 5, 2022
“They had like six in the wall,” Lenhard said recalling the play. “I just needed to get it on frame and whatever happens, happens.”
While the teams traded chances over the first 40 minutes, the second half had a different feel with Spencerport carrying a bulk of the play.
“I thought we played a really good first half and it was an even game,” Williamsville East head coach Paul Loweecey said. “In the second half, Spencerport made a couple changes that really let them set up more in our end. It was tough for us to break out which we’re usually very good at doing. That’s a credit to them for making that change. No one has been able to that against us.
“The way they could adjust to what we were doing and break us down as the game went on, I think it just came down to good coaching and players that had a good sense of where they were. Where my girls did it for a lot of the game, there were certain times when Spencerport just did a good job of shutting us down at just the right moment.”
15’ Emily Woolingham converts a PK to give Williamsville East an early 1-nil lead. pic.twitter.com/4WngDtXOIw
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 5, 2022
Cate Burns made 10 saves in the win.
Spencerport advances to the next weekend’s semifinals where the Rangers will face New Hartford (III) on Saturday. New Hartford, the reigning state champion and No. 1 NYSSWA Class A has a 58-game unbeaten streak heading into next weekend.
“To be going back to the state semifinals with this group, sharing new experiences and having a ton of fun with these girls will be a memory that I won’t want to give up,” Lenhard said.
Of the four schools (Clarence, Ellicottville, Lewiston-Porter and Spencerport) to send both boys and girls teams to the Far West Regionals, only Spencerport had both teams advance to the New York State semifinals.
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