By PAUL GOTHAM
FARMINGTON, N.Y. — Lindsay Lenhard scored twice and assisted on a goal from teammate Kendall Mesh as the No. 1 seed Spencerport Rangers defeated No. 2 Webster Schroeder, 3-0 to claim the 2023 Section V Class AA Girls’ Soccer championship.
With the win, Spencerport (20-0-0) set a Section V Girls’ Soccer record with its eighth straight title.
“It’s fun to be a part of,” said Spencerport head coach Jamie Schneider. “When you think about all that time, those games, those wins and all the players we’ve had. For me, it’s just fun to be a part of. It’s a great community that wants to give their kids the best experience. To find success like that is remarkable.”
On Saturday the Rangers did it like they have all season with a suffocating defense that limited Schroeder to four shots on goal.
“Their speed got to us tonight,” Schroeder head coach Kent Brown said. “Every time we thought we had a chance to counter and find some type of seam or get in, their speed on the backline took it away. I thought that was the big difference in the game just how much quicker they got into spaces.”
The shutout was the sixth straight and 18th overall for Spencerport which hasn’t conceded a goal since October ninth.
“They are the best defense we’ve had,” said Schneider whose teams have won seven straight regional titles. “Individually just superb and when you put them together collectively their shape and how they anticipate things is remarkable. It was just another game that they played so well.”
Mesh, a three-year starter including the past two at center back, opened the scoring less than 17 minutes into the match. After the Rangers worked for a free kick along the right wing, Lenhard lofted a ball into the 18-yard box. Mesh, who moved up from the backline for the set piece, won a battle in the air.
“Lindsay sent in a perfect ball,” the senior center back said. “I was glad I was able to put my head on it.”
A four-year player with the Rangers, the goal was Mesh’s first in a sectional final.
“I’m a defender, don’t really score,” she said. “I saw the ball go up in the air. It’s just kinda that urgency in that moment. You’re just kinda like I know I want this, and I’m going to get it. We needed one to get us going and pick up the intensity. It was a good way to get us going.”
Eight minutes later, Lenhard doubled the advantage with a left-footed blast from just inside the 18-yard box. Isabella Fiorillo assisted on the play.
The win was the third this year for Spencerport (No. 2 NYSSWA Class AA) over Schroeder (17-3-0).
“It’s always hard to beat a really solid team three times,” Lenhard said. “We just got to keep finding different ways to break through their line. They have great defenders back there.”
Lenhard capped the scoring with her 23rd goal of the year. The junior midfielder split a pair of defenders along the right flank about 25 yards from the goal. She froze a third defender with the slightest shake of her shoulders before sending a right-footed shot into the opposite side netting.
“We just had to keep pressing them, keep winning the ball and switching things up. Sometimes go over the top. Sometimes break the lines, but switching it up and making sure they don’t know what’s coming.”
Spencerport had beaten Schroeder by scores of 2-0 and 4-0 during the season. In their other 17 games, the Warriors allowed a total of 15 goals or less than one per game. Other than an outlier where wind played a factor in a 8-5 win over Brighton, the Warriors had seven shutouts heading into Saturday’s match.
For Schneider, the preparation for Saturday’s was not as much about tactics.
“It’s tough because they’re a good side especially with their defense,” the 21st-year coach said. “For us, it’s more the mental side to really prep them as how we’re going to do this. How are going to perform well again and get the result? So it’s a lot of mental aspects to beating them two, three times in a row and then in a sectional final. It’s a tough game to win.”
Each of Spencerport’s previous seven championships came at the Class A level.
“It feels amazing,” Mesh said. “This is our first step. This is what you wait for your whole season. We’re glad to finally have that locked in.”
Schroeder (No. 4 NYSSWA Class AA) won the AA crown a year ago and lost to eventual state finalist Clarence in the Far West Regional. A first-half penalty kick ended up being the game winner in that contest.
The title was the 11th overall for the Spencerport girls’ program which other than this current streak that started in 2016, won championships in 1973 (the first in Section V Girls’ Soccer history), 1980 and 2007.
“It all comes down to each individual and our coaches,” Mesh said. “They’re always pushing us to be the best versions of ourselves in every practice. High intensity. They push us, and that’s what we need. We love it.”
The Rangers were knotted with Aquinas for consecutive titles at seven straight. The Li’l Irish won championships from 1996 to 2002 under the late Gary Page.
Spencerport’s 11 titles tie the Rangers with Kendall and Pittsford Mendon as fifth on the all-time Section V list behind Livonia (19), Aquinas, which won earlier in the day (15), Arkport (13) and Red Creek (12).
Spencerport will play Section VI champion Niagara-Wheatfield in the NYS Far West Regional. The Falcons advanced on PKs to reach the state quarterfinals for the first time in program history. A 4 PM start time is scheduled Saturday at Webster Schroeder High School.
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