By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Ryan Smith’s goal early in the second half proved to be the difference as top-seeded Spencerport (16-1-1) edged No. 4 Webster Thomas (13-5-0), 2-1 in Section V Class AA semifinal action from Werner Kleeman Field on the campus of Rush-Henrietta, Wednesday evening.
Smith ran on to a through ball from teammate Emily Peacock and slotted a shot far post for her 10th goal of the season.
“She’s improved a lot over the course of the year,” head coach Jamie Schneider said of the sophomore midfielder. “On the outside when she has time and space, she angles things well. Once she has that open field, she sees the lines, as we like to call them, really well. Once she finds those lines, she can definitely be dangerous and get behind the opposing backs.”
Thomas defeated the Rangers, 2-1 when the two teams met in early October. That loss snapped Spencerport’s 63-game unbeaten streak against Section V teams.
‘That fell in our advantage not getting that result,” Schneider said. “That set the tone. The first two games in sectionals we also played well. I felt like we had good momentum coming into tonight. Our play dictated that, too. It would have been nice to get a few more goals, but that’s okay.”
Schneider made one lineup adjustment from that previous head-to-head matchup, moving Liana Tata from center back into the midfield.
“She’s a terrific player,” Schneider said of the University of Buffalo commit. “She impacts the field everywhere she plays, but having her a little higher helps our midfield.
“It’s matchups. It’s who we play during the season, trying to find the best formula and always tinkering with things. That was the big thing. We changed up our formation from the last time we played them.”
Peacock staked Spencerport to a 1-nil lead in the first half. Alli Moss assisted on the goal.
Sophie Esders scored for Thomas to make it a level match heading into halftime.
Addy Lynch made six saves for the win.
With the win, Spencerport advances to face No. 3 Churchville-Chili in the Class A final on Saturday.
Spencerport took both regular season meetings (4-1 and 3-1) between the Monroe County Division II foes.
The Rangers defeated Churchville, 2-0 in the 2022 Class A final. That was Spencerport’s seventh straight title. On Saturday, Schneider’s squad will look to claim its 10th consecutive crown. They have already set the Section V Girls’ Soccer record for consecutive championships won. Now Spencerport will look to become the first Section V Soccer team (boys or girls) to win double-digit consecutive championships.
“I would go crazy if looked at it as No. 10,” Schneider said. “One more game. We’re going to look at it as one game. See what we can put together and play our best 80 minutes of soccer and try not to focus on that result.”
A 5:30 p.m. kickoff is scheduled on Saturday at Webster Schroeder High School.
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