Lady Storm downed in MAC Championship by undefeated Spartans three-goal first half
The Unadilla Valley Girls Soccer team played in the MAC Championship game against Unatego for the second straight year. The Lady Storm fell to the Spartans by a final of 3-0 but the season is not over as Sectionals begin Friday. (Submitted Photo)
ONEONTA – For the second straight year, the Unadilla Valley Lady Storm met the Spartans of Unatego in the Midstate Athletic Conference (MAC) Championship, a game held at the Wright National Soccer Campus in Oneonta Saturday morning.
After three first-half goals by Spartans, Unatego claimed their second straight MAC trophy as the opening minutes of play proved to be the difference in the contest.
“Unatego is an excellent team with good passing and communication,” said Storm’s head coach Jeanine Potter. “They always seem to find a way to get themselves open for the shot.”
Unatego’s Dana Stepp scored the second and third goals her team and added an assist to have a part in all three balls netted in the 3-0 victory.
The Spartans struck first when Kylie Mussaw took the pass from Stepp and chipped a shot off the crossbar. The ball deflected off the top post and went into the net just over 16 minutes into the contest.
Stepp then added the second Unatego goal with 21:30 left in the first after fielding a Hali Lucia cross and sending the ball into the lower left corner, passed a diving Meegan White – the Storm’s keeper – for the two-goal advantage.
The Lucia-Stepp connection happened once again with less than five minutes to go as Lucia delivered up a pass to the middle of the Spartans offensive third. Stepp settled, turned and rifled the ball off the post and in to give Unatego a 3-0 lead.
Unadilla Valley saw a few chances late in the second half as the Storm shook off their slow start and started to put together some offense. However, they could not capitalize. One shot attempt by UV sailed high in the air and bounced off the top of the crossbar and over to give Unatego a goal kick.
With the Spartans taking a total of 22 shots throughout the contest, UV’s keeper White had a busy day. Coming away with some incredible stops as described by Potter, the senior goalie finished the game with 18 saves.
“We played a better second half as we held them scoreless,” Potter said. “Meegan [White] had some great stops and the defense hustled to keep players marked up. We came back after halftime and really focused in to played our game.
“I am really proud of our team. All season long, they have kept their heads up and not given up and they didn’t disappoint on Saturday.”
Saturday’s MAC Championship was a rematch from a year ago. Unatego also won with a score of 2-1.
Unatego remains undefeated for the season while Unadilla Valley falls to 8-4-1. Both teams were seeded higher for the Section IV Class C tournament. Both teams have earned byes in the first round. The Storm will play on the road against Lansing on October 25 at 3:30 p.m. The winner could see the Spartans in the semifinals of the tournament.
Unatego 3, Unadilla Valley 0
UV 0 0 – 0
U 3 0 – 0
Goals-Assists: (UV) None; (U) Dana Stepp 2-1, Hali Lucia 0-2, Kylie Mussaw 1-0.
Shots-corners: (UV) 3-1; (U) 22-7.
Saves: (UV) Meegan White 18; (U) Meghan Perry 0, Haleigh Burton 2.
After three first-half goals by Spartans, Unatego claimed their second straight MAC trophy as the opening minutes of play proved to be the difference in the contest.
“Unatego is an excellent team with good passing and communication,” said Storm’s head coach Jeanine Potter. “They always seem to find a way to get themselves open for the shot.”
Unatego’s Dana Stepp scored the second and third goals her team and added an assist to have a part in all three balls netted in the 3-0 victory.
The Spartans struck first when Kylie Mussaw took the pass from Stepp and chipped a shot off the crossbar. The ball deflected off the top post and went into the net just over 16 minutes into the contest.
Stepp then added the second Unatego goal with 21:30 left in the first after fielding a Hali Lucia cross and sending the ball into the lower left corner, passed a diving Meegan White – the Storm’s keeper – for the two-goal advantage.
The Lucia-Stepp connection happened once again with less than five minutes to go as Lucia delivered up a pass to the middle of the Spartans offensive third. Stepp settled, turned and rifled the ball off the post and in to give Unatego a 3-0 lead.
Unadilla Valley saw a few chances late in the second half as the Storm shook off their slow start and started to put together some offense. However, they could not capitalize. One shot attempt by UV sailed high in the air and bounced off the top of the crossbar and over to give Unatego a goal kick.
With the Spartans taking a total of 22 shots throughout the contest, UV’s keeper White had a busy day. Coming away with some incredible stops as described by Potter, the senior goalie finished the game with 18 saves.
“We played a better second half as we held them scoreless,” Potter said. “Meegan [White] had some great stops and the defense hustled to keep players marked up. We came back after halftime and really focused in to played our game.
“I am really proud of our team. All season long, they have kept their heads up and not given up and they didn’t disappoint on Saturday.”
Saturday’s MAC Championship was a rematch from a year ago. Unatego also won with a score of 2-1.
Unatego remains undefeated for the season while Unadilla Valley falls to 8-4-1. Both teams were seeded higher for the Section IV Class C tournament. Both teams have earned byes in the first round. The Storm will play on the road against Lansing on October 25 at 3:30 p.m. The winner could see the Spartans in the semifinals of the tournament.
Unatego 3, Unadilla Valley 0
UV 0 0 – 0
U 3 0 – 0
Goals-Assists: (UV) None; (U) Dana Stepp 2-1, Hali Lucia 0-2, Kylie Mussaw 1-0.
Shots-corners: (UV) 3-1; (U) 22-7.
Saves: (UV) Meegan White 18; (U) Meghan Perry 0, Haleigh Burton 2.
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