By PAUL GOTHAM
MENDON, N.Y. — Three different players connected on first-half goals to provide all the offense needed, and No. 4 Pittsford Mendon advanced to the 2023 Section V Class AA Girls’ Soccer quarterfinals with a 3-1 victory over No. 13 Brockport, Wednesday night at Thornell Park.
The Vikings will play No. 12 Our Lady of Mercy on Saturday.
“Obviously, that’s what you want,” said Mendon head coach Eric Pritchard. “We had a lot of good pressure upfront, created some chances and scored from those. That took the pressure off.”
Juliana Cabarcos started the scoring in the 13th minute. Addie Larimer doubled the advantage with less than eight minutes remaining in the half, and Jaelyn Rodu made it a 3-nil game heading into the break.
“That’s all you can ask for in your first sectional game.”
Cabarcos knocked in a rebound from just outside the 6-yard box for a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute. Larimer started the play with a service from the left flank that was mishandled. Cabarcos followed for her fifth goal of the season. Larimer converted a penalty kick for her first varsity goal with 7:19 left in the stanza. Rodi scored less than three minutes later for the 3-nil lead.
13’ Juliana Cabarcos takes advantage of a rebound to give @mendonsoccer a 1-nil lead. pic.twitter.com/yWNFrP3NDg
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 18, 2023
The meeting was the third this season between Monroe County Division III foes. Mendon won the previous two games taking a 3-1 decision on September 5th and a 1-nil victory at Brockport on September 27th.
“We didn’t change a lot; we just kept doing what we have all season, and it worked out for us,” Pritchard said. “We knew that probably in the second half they were going to put a lot of people upfront and test us, which they did. They did a very good job of that. They put a lot of pressure on our defenders.”
33’ Addie Larimer converts a PK. @mendonsoccer 2-nil pic.twitter.com/07xq5Ru0c3
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 18, 2023
Brockport worked for a pair of corner kicks to start the second half.
Riley Stella found the back of the net in 47th minute to get the Blue Devils on the scoreboard.
Brockport threatened to make it a one-goal game late in the contest, but Mendon keeper, Kate Crowley made a kick save on a breakaway attempt to preserve the lead.
That Brockport stayed within striking distance of Mendon was due in part because of Danielle Holzschuh’s efforts in goal. The ninth-grade keeper made 11 saves including a pair of diving stops.
“She made a ton of great saves,” Pritchard said. “She played an excellent second half and made point-blank saves, off the corner kicks and crosses and everything else. She had a great game. She should be happy about the way she played.”
Teammates Baylee Dengenfelder and Maddison Gilfilian both came to the rescue for Holzschuh clearing a ball apiece off the line on separate occasions.
Big stop from Baylee Degenfelder. pic.twitter.com/772Yp85Ny8
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 19, 2023
Maddison Gilfilian clears one off the line for @BportGSoccer pic.twitter.com/U90fuv26hj
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 19, 2023
Mendon (11-2-4) is unbeaten in its past five games including a scoreless tie with Mercy.
Brockport finished with a record of 5-10-1.
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