By PAUL GOTHAM
SANBORN, N.Y. — Ella Yartym finished with all three goals in a 3-2 Haverling victory over Lewiston-Porter (VI) in the New York State Class B Girls’ Far West Regional championship, Saturday at Niagara-Wheatfield High School.
Yartym connected on the game winner with 6:49 remaining in the second half.
“It was crazy, honestly,” she said after the victory. “I felt so much pressure. I’m really glad I could just place it in the corner. That’s what I really needed to do.”
Less than 30 seconds after Elisabeth Gray leveled the match for Lewiston-Porter, teammate Keegan Smith led Yartym through the Lewiston-Porter backline, and the junior forward went to the right to beat goalkeeper Rebecca Hoffman.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM SHAWN TURRI HERE.
“It was really great,” Yartym said of Smith’s pass. “I was so nervous. It was just coming at me, and I was like oh my, God I really hope I can settle this and score.
“I’m so grateful. We worked really hard for this. We were all ready for it.”
Yartym ran her season total to 39 goals with her sixth hat trick of the season.
74’ HAT TRICK Ella Yartym runs on to a Keegan Smith lead and goes far post to give Haverling a 3-2 lead. NYS Class B Far West Regional. @SecVAthletics pic.twitter.com/TwfoIKksZ2
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 5, 2022
“Ella’s relentless,” Haverling head coach Braedyn Northrup said. “She had some trouble keeping them on frame in the first half, but she’s relentless. I know she will always come out on top. You give that girl an opportunity, she’s going to make you pay.”
Northrup liked Yartym’s chances coming into the game.
“When I scouted these guys, they play a flat back four. That for Ella is good news. If they give her any amount of space to move laterally, Keegan and Natalie (Krelie) are going to send those balls to her over the top. If you let her run into space, she’s definitely going to put it into the back of the net.”
Smith finished with two assists in the win. Meredith Czajowski also help set up a goal. Lola Coots made five saves.
Haverling (21-0-0) recently claimed its third straight sectional title and fourth in program history. Saturday’s regional championship and subsequent spot in the state semis are firsts for the Rams.
“It makes it permanent,” Northrup said of the regional championship. “We’ve accomplished some different things this year like we went undefeated for the first time, but that doesn’t stay in its moment in history forever. This does. These girls deserve it. No group deserves it more than them.
“These girls show up in the off-season. They put the work in whether it’s the fall or not, and the play for each other. There’s not one selfish player on that field. They play team offense; they play team defense, and that’s been the big difference for us.”
Haverling will play Westhill (III), Saturday at Cortland High School. A 5:30 p.m. start time is scheduled.
“I’m so grateful,” Yartym said. “We worked really hard for this. We’re all ready for it.”
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