By PAUL GOTHAM
CORTLAND, N.Y. — Brynn Pichette and Sarah Fields delivered first-half goals as Pittsford Sutherland (18-1-3) clinched a spot in the NYSPHSAA Class A championship game with a 2-1 victory over Beekmantown (14-4-2), Saturday afternoon from Moiseichik Field on the campus of Cortland High School.
Pichette opened the scoring less than 15 minutes into the match.
“We had to score that first goal,” said Sutherland head coach Adam Palumbo. “That was the one hurdle. We scored the first goal in the sectional finals and ever since then, we got the scoring started in regionals and now states. We’re scoring and we’re doing great.”
Fields connected on a left-footed strike in the 22nd minute.
The Knights made the lead last for their ninth straight win.
“We knew that they were probably going to come out strong in the second half,” Palumbo said. “They’re dangerous going direct, especially with this weather. Anything can happen. We did an amazing job.”
Lizzie Riley accounted for two assists in the win.
“We’ve been working a lot on playing quick in the middle because they’re big and strong,” Palumbo said. “We wanted to use the flanks. We did really well getting it wide. The girls did a great job taking what we do in practice and using it on the field.”
Sutherland’s defense held Beekmantown without a free kick inside 45 yards and limited the Eagles to one corner kick in the match.
Olivia Miller scored the lone Beekmantown goal with 10:14 left on the clock.
The game was played under cloudy skies with a wintry mix that kept the turf wet throughout the 80 minutes of action.
Sutherland will face Rye of Section I in Sunday’s championship game. That matchup is scheduled for a 10 a.m. kickoff at Cortland High School.
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