By PAUL GOTHAM
CALEDONIA, N.Y. — Keshequa girls’ soccer had won nine of its past 10 games.
Tuesday night presented the chance to avenge that one loss.
The No. 15 team in the state (NYSSWA Class C) didn’t waste the opportunity.
Ava Thayer finished with a brace and one assist as Keshequa defeated host Caledonia-Mumford, 5-1 in Livingston County AA action.
“We really tried to spread the field,” Keshequa head coach Pat Forrester said. “We love playing on turf. We just tried to spread the ball out, get it in their end and get it to our targets. And they did.”
Maddie Strain opened the scoring in the 12th minute with an assist from Thayer. Four minutes later, Thayer doubled the lead off an assist from Alivia Cartwright.
12’ Madeline Strain gets Keshequa on the scoreboard with an assist from Ava Thayer. pic.twitter.com/5IUgcMEFKD
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 10, 2023
Libby Benner converted on a corner kick with seven minutes remaining in the half for a 3-nil lead. Strain set up the play. Braelyn Isaman found the back of the net less than a minute later for a 4-nil advantage heading into halftime.
“I was excited to get that third goal,” Forrester said. “Two-nothing always scares me because that’s that comfort going into halftime. That could change either way.”
Thayer worked the right flank and played a ball into the 18-yard box that Strain one-timed for her fourth goal of the season. Thayer finished from just outside the 6-yard box.
Benner took advantage of a second chance for her 13th marker of the season. Isaman connected for the 18th time this season.
Cal-Mum did shift the momentum midway through the first half and a goal on a corner kick was disallowed because of offsides.
“I thought the last 14 minutes of the first half we kinda died a little bit,” Forrester said. “We were just trying to keep that momentum up.”
Holly McGinnis scored the lone goal in a 1-nil Cal-Mum win at Keshequa when the two teams met on September 26th.
“Their goalie played an amazing game,” Forrester said of Cal-Mum keeper Madison Wyskiel. “She’s amazing in the air. We really worked on keeping the ball on the ground for that reason. She does a very nice job.”
Thayer made it a 5-nil game less than seven minutes into the second half. The junior, has 24 goals and 14 assists on the season.
47’ Ava Thayer gives Keshequa a 5-nil lead. pic.twitter.com/nQTVVKc1Ni
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 10, 2023
Bre Bishop scored the lone Cal-Mum goal, her 21st of the season.
Keshequa won the Class D1 Section V title a year ago and advanced to the NYS Class D semis. This season Keshequa will compete in Class C2 with two other reigning sectional champions in Gananda (Class C1) and Byron-Bergen (C2). Byron-Bergen also advanced to the state semis in 2022. Gananda (15-0-0) is currently ranked No. 4 in the state. Byron-Bergen (11-3-0) is ranked No. 8. Geneseo (11-3-1/t-No. 20) will also be a part of C2.
“It’s the toughest,” Forrester said. “You look at it and wonder how you can get through it.”
Sectionals open next Tuesday.
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