Frank Speziale Photo

GREENE – Back-to-back second half goals by the Eagles of Whitney Point secured the comeback win and their spot in the Section IV Class C finals for the fifth straight time, defeating the host Greene Trojans 2-1 Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday’s contest set-up the fourth meeting between the Lady Trojans of Greene and their Section IV Class C foe, the Whitney Point Eagles. With Greene having the upper hand in the first three match-ups, many thought they were going to be able to slide past Whitney Point, ending their streak of finals appearances by the Eagles.
That was until Whitney Point’s Kaylie Lynch first varsity goal came when her team need it the most. With 4:46 remaining in the contest, Lynch punched her shot into the back of the goal, breaking the 1-1 tie.
The first half of play went scoreless, just like other games these two teams have played this season.
Just three minutes into the second, the Trojans took the first lead of the season as Madison Rice found the back of the net right in front of the Eagles’ keeper, Katie Cafferty.
Greene’s Brianna Austin started the attack on the right baseline and sent a pass to a group of players inside the circle. Her teammate McKenna Sergi knocked the ball in the direction of Rice and Rice fired it past Cafferty for the 1-0 lead.
One would think after a big goal in a big game like this, the momentum would stay in favor of the Lady Trojans. It did not.
Whitney Point used the goal scored by their opponent as fuel for their fire and began to slowly swing the momentum towards their side with the constant offensive pressure.
Greene’s goalie Brooke Austin fought off several chances by the Eagles to hold onto the lead for her team. In fact, she finished the game with 14 saves.
Her first save she made to keep the lead intact came six minutes after the Trojans goal.
Lynch took a close-range shot but Austin used a right-handed save to send it away from the goal.
“[Brooke]’s such an athlete and it showed in this game,” said Battaglini. “She came up with some big saves to keep us in it and she did everything she could do to help us win.
“She played amazing and I couldn’t have asked for more from her. She’ll be playing for a college in the future and I’m happy she will have another season with us.”
Coming at Austin with another chance was once again Lynch after she received a pass from Cassidy Sturdevant from the right side. Lynch swung her stick but missed.
Keeping the offensive attack, the Eagles’ Amy Stevens displayed her stick work as she made moves past to Trojan defenders before putting one between Austin and the right side post, tying the contest with just 12 minutes remaining.
Stevens got the second goal started for Whitney Point as she went a pass into Leanne Bough, the Eagles’ standout who is headed to the Ohio State roster next fall. Bough dribbled up the field, bringing Trojans her way.
As she drew in the Greene defenders, Lynch was left open near the left post. Bough send a ground ball to the unmarked Lynch who then settled the pass and rifled home the game winner.
With time still left on the clock, the Trojans attempted to create opportunities in their half of the field but nothing came from their attacks. Whitney Point sent the ball up the field as the final ticks came off the clock.
“[Whitney Point] was just the better team,” said Greene’s head coach Christine Battaglini. “While the game didn’t go the way we had hoped, our girls had a great season and will always be considered a special team.
The Trojans ended the season with an 11-3 record. Two of the losses came at the hands of Whitney Point and Section IV Class A Champions of Maine-Endwell.
Whitney Point 2, Greene 1
(0-0 at half)
Goals-Assists: (WP) Kaylie Lynch 1-0, Leanne Bough 0-1, Amy Stevens 1-0; (G): Madison Rice 1-0, McKenna Sergi 0-1.
Shots-Corners: (WP) 21-13; (G) 8-1.
Saves: (WP) Katie Cafferty 4; (G)Brooke Austin 14.