By PAUL GOTHAM
CORTLAND, N.Y. — Four years running Spencerport girls’ soccer saw its season end in Cortland without bringing home the top prize.
On Sunday, that trend came to a screeching halt on the pitch at Tompkins-Cortland Community College.
Emily Peacock and Emma Watson provided a goal apiece while Cate Burns and the Rangers’ defense registered their 20th shutout of the season.
“This team has performed so well from the start,” Spencerport head coach Jamie Schneider said after the Rangers defeated Smithtown West (XI), 2-0 in the NYSPHSAA Class AA championship game. “This is a special group. To win a championship, perform the way they did, with the record of 23-0 and the goal differential. It’s really a special group of athletes and kids.”
The state title was the third in program history but first since the Rangers shared the 2017 Class A championship with Pearl River (I). Spencerport won the 2016 A championship outright.
“Once you gain that experience of the first couple, you realize how difficult it is and how everything is going to have to come together,” Schneider said. “It does get more difficult, but what an accomplishment.”
Peacock converted on a free kick opportunity from 20 yards. The sophomore forward redirected a Lindsay Lenhard service in the 39th minute.
“I wasn’t really nervous,” she said. “I knew if we didn’t score, my defense had me no matter what. I had to do my part. They did their part. It just ended up working out.”
Lenhard lofted in a service from 30 yards out. Peacock stepped in front of her defender and won a ball in the air that she placed inside the near post.
“I was thinking they were going to hold me off,” Peacock said. “But one of the players stepped back, and I saw that. I got to take advantage of that.
“I thought they were going to call me off (sides), but I realized she stepped back and it opened up all the space for me.”
Like Peacock, Watson scored from the air. The senior redirected a Carley Oakden cross with 23:26 remaining in the game. The shot caromed off the inside of the far post and over the goal line.
For Schneider, it was a game that was won in the midfield.
“They’re midfield, they’re a good team,” Schneider said of the Bulls. “Their midfield was terrific. They pressed us the hardest any team has ever pressed us in the midfield. To not gain control of the game was difficult, but eventually we settled down, found some feet, got some rhythm and made some good decisions on the ball.”
Smithtown-West was coming off a 4-1 win over Section II champion, Columbia in Saturday’s other semifinal. Ashley Mennella found herself with the ball behind the Spencerport defense late in the first half. Burns alertly came off her line to cut down the angle, Mennella trickled just wide of frame.
“It’s always been rough start; yesterday was rough start,” said senior midfielder Jamie Keens. “It’s states. Everybody’s got nerves up and stuff, but as long as we play as we always do, we get our nerves down and tell everybody to focus.
“We really just set the stage and told each other to calm down.”
A year ago, the Rangers’ season ended with PKs in the state semifinals. They reached the finals in 2019 only to fall to Shoreham-Wading River, 2-0.
Those losses along with a defeat in the 2021 semis made Sunday’s victory even sweeter.
“Especially losing the past two years in the same exact place, the semis. Even winning yesterday was a big accomplishment.
“I really can’t explain the feeling. It’s amazing.”
Burns made three saves for Sunday’s clean sheet. The senior was named Top Keeper of the Tournament.
Senior center back Kendall Mesh was named Spencerport’s Most Outstanding Player.
Spencerport outscored its season opponents by a combined total of 102-3.
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