By PAUL GOTHAM
LE ROY, N.Y — Ryleigh Denning has plenty of experience in sectional championship games during her varsity career.
The Kendall junior wants more this season.
On Tuesday night, she made sure that her team would have that chance.
Denning netted a hat trick as top-seeded Kendall (17-1-0) advanced to the Section V Class C2 championship game with a 6-1 win over No. 5 Genesee Valley-Belfast (15-4-0), in action from Le Roy’s Hartwood Park.
Leading 2-0 at halftime, Denning struck twice as the Eagles scored three times in the opening eight minutes of the second half.
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“Two-nothing is the most dangerous lead,” she said echoing the words of her head coach Nino Pilato. “It doesn’t matter. We’re still in a game and either team can win it. Teams can make comebacks. As the second half started, we realized we needed to pick it up. We fought for the win.”
Teammate Sophia Picardo started the scoring less than three minutes after the break.
Picardo took a cross from Jersie Drake and finished from inside the 18-yard box. A minute and a half later, Denning found the back of the net. Then she took advantage of a giveaway in the area to make it a 5-0 game.
“It was exciting,” she said of the flurry. “The team enjoyed it.”
With the win, Kendall clinched its third straight trip to a sectional final.
“We are very thankful for this moment,” she said “I’m just proud of all the effort and work we’ve put in. We wanted to go again to sectional finals, and we want to win this year. We deserve it.”
Denning and Drake scored a goal apiece in the first half to stake the Eagles to a 2-0 lead.
Denning also contributed an assist in the win. Drake accounted for two helpers. Picardo and Addison Kludt had an assist apiece.
McKenzie Cooper rounded out the scoring.
Teagan Shaw made three saves for the win.
Denning leads Kendall with 28 goals on the season.
Madison Yackeren scored the lone goal for GV-B.
Kendall will face No. 6 Fillmore in the championship game on Friday.
“It’s exciting, but it’s also nerve-wracking,” Denning said. “I really want it this year for my team. We’re playing for each other and the community. We just want to work hard and bring one back home to Kendall.”
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