VESTAL – Since an overtime loss to Ward-Melville in the state semifinals a year ago, Greene’s field hockey team has driven itself to rectify that unfavorable outcome.
The Trojans took a step closer to righting last year’s wrong winning their fourth straight Section IV title Saturday night at Dick Hoover Field in Vestal.
Greene scored four times in the first and routed Vestal, 6-0, for the Class A championship on the Golden Bears’ own turf. “We beat them 3-0 the first two times, and they played us tough,” said Greene head coach Sue Carlin. “For us to score six goals, that was surprising.”
Freshman Emily Conroe scored 2:41 into the game receiving a crossing pass to the left of the goal from Erin Smith. That tally set the tone early, and by the 15-minute mark, three goals had passed by Vestal keeper Anna Hancock, and the rout was on.
“We’ve been waiting a long time for this, and this was our big chance,” said senior Christine Conroe, who has played on the last four sectional championship teams. Conroe added one goal and one assist to the Greene count. “We’re just ready to win and we want to win so bad. Every game we want to dominate.”
The Trojans (17-0) had plenty of time to prepare for the sectional championship game. It had been over two weeks since a 4-0 MAC championship win over Walton, their most recent contest. From the start of Saturday’s game, though, any game rust was dusted off in a matter of seconds.
“At our practice (Friday), they were loose, but playing intense,” Carlin said. “You could tell they were ready and had enough of practice. I had, too, and I couldn’t wait to get here today.”
Emily Conroe added Greene’s second goal just over five minutes after her first, this time getting a pass from her big sister Christine.
Christine Conroe tallied next with 15:45 remaining on a penalty corner, and Anna Crumb made it a four-goal lead with 8:19 left in the stanza.
Vestal made it into Greene’s penalty circle just once the entire first half, and didn’t venture there again until the final 10 minutes of the game. By that time, the Trojans’ key starters were already done for the day and cheering on the reserves.
Amy David had a goal on a penalty stroke with 13:42 remaining, and freshman reserve, Emma Anderson completed the scoring with just under four minutes to play.
For the season, Greene has 14 shutout wins and has outscored the opposition a combined 82-4.
“Our seniors, they were really disappointed with the outcome last year, and they have all worked hard to get back where we’re they’re at,” Carlin said. “The whole team is very focused and very motivated, and it shows in the way they play.”
Greene will meet either Liverpool or Rome of Section III, Saturday at Cicero-North Syracuse in the Class A regional finals.
Summary
(Greene led 4-0 at half)
Goals-assists: (G) Emily Conroe, 2-0, Christine Conroe, 1-1; Anna Crumb, 1-0; Amy David, 1-0; Emma Anderson, 1-0; Erin Smith, 0-1.
Shots-penalty corners:  (G) 15-13, (V) 0-1.
Saves: (G) Devyn Staley, 0; (V) Anna Hancock, 8.