By PAUL GOTHAM
WEBSTER, N.Y. — The scoreboard at Webster Schroeder told a painful truth.
Despite holding a decided advantage in shots on goal (9-3) and corner kicks (5-1), the Aquinas girls’ soccer team didn’t have an edge in the statistic that mattered most, the final score.
Elina Kunik’s goal with 38:57 remaining in the second half was the difference as Section VI champion Lewiston-Porter advanced to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) semifinals with a 1-0 win Saturday in Far West Regional action.
“All the credit to Lewiston-Porter,” Aquinas head coach Adam Schwartz said. “They’re a tremendous side. It was a great match.”
The number that the scoreboard did not display was that of offsides calls against the Li’l Irish. On at least a half-dozen occasions during Saturday’s second half the whistle blew to stop play with Aquinas looking to break free on the Lewiston-Porter goal.
“We haven’t played a team this year that has played with a high line,” Schwartz explained. “It gave us difficulties. I give them credit for that, and I blame myself for not having our girls prepared to deal with that high line. I did watch film on them, and I didn’t see that, previously. It’s a risky way to play. We broke through a couple times, but we didn’t deal with it well enough.”
When Aquinas was able to time their runs and create chances, L-P’s Casey Fetzner picked up the slack. The junior keeper thwarted the Aquinas front line with stops on a pair of point-blank opportunities and another couple of one-on-one chances.
“Brilliant game,” Schwartz said of Fetzner. “That’s what you need. You need your keeper to make two or three great saves to get to the place that you want to go. All the credit to her.”
Aquinas (16-2-2) came into Saturday’s action unbeaten (11 wins and one tie) in its past 12 games including its first sectional championship since 2017. The Li’l Irish had conceded two goals during that stretch.
“There will be time to reflect on the season and our accomplishments,” Schwartz said. “But today, we’re competitors, so it’s a very painful loss…You don’t when you’re going to get back to this spot. I just felt we let this one slip away.”
Elisabeth Gray pushed the ball to the touch line and set up Kunik for the match’s only goal.
Lewiston-Porter will either play Rye (I) or Our Lady of Lourdes (IX) next Saturday.
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