Lady Trojans vying for NYS Final Four berth
The team poses for a picture following the Section IV Class C Championship game. Now, they will return to Vestal Saturday morning at 11 a.m. in hopes of a New York State Championship berth. (Submitted photo)
GREENE – It has been seven years since the last time the Lady Trojans Field Hockey team was in a New York State Regional championship game.
For the last five years, the Whitney Point Eagles have represented Section IV at the New York State Championships and before their dynasty started, there wasn’t a team from the section at the final four – a rare occurrence in the field hockey world.
Drawing the Eagles in the first round of the Section IV Class C tournament this season, Greene immediately started off their playoff journey with a test. Meeting two times prior to the win-or-go home matchup, Whitney Point topped the Trojans in both games.
However, Greene head coach Christine Battaglini felt her team was a different group by the third meeting between the two Class C powerhouse programs.
“It was after the first 1-0 loss to Maine-Endwell, the game where they defeated us in the closing seconds that has really been our turning point for the season,” said the head coach. “It was after that game that I said to myself, ‘wow, that game really looked like we are starting to turn the corner.’”
Following the loss, the Trojans had a 4-6 record, falling below a .500 record in one of the few, if any, times Battaglini took over as head coach of the program.
But the head coach said she wasn’t really worried as it was like something clicked with her girls and they have been on a tear ever since, improving their record to 5-2 that includes wins over Whitney Point in the first round and Marathon – another Section IV dominant team.
In their playoff run, Greene has held their three opponents to one goal combined while the offense has reached a new level with 12 goals in the three games.
“We are starting to peak and come together at the right time,” said Battaglini. “As we are getting to these later games, it so nice to watch. It’s exciting as over the season, things have turned around and we have improved every game. At this point in the season, the little things like the girls trusting each other, having confidence, communicating – all of those thing really being to matter. It’s been a lot of fun.”
After dealing with a tough schedule in the regular season and coming away with a 6-8 record prior to the start of sectionals, Greene was what most sports stories see as the underdog character. However, the Trojans head coach, her staff and the players – though have discussed it – haven’t really believed they were ever the eighth-seeded cinderella story.
“We have played some tough teams all season long,” Battaglini said. “When you have a schedule like most teams do from Section IV, you could very well end up with a record like ours. But no team can ever be counted out of a sectional championship with the history and strong play that we have in this area. Section IV Field Hockey has a lot of history throughout the state.”
Battaglini is not wrong about that.
Since 1984, there have only been four years where a Section IV team has not been one of the two teams in the New York State Championship game. And in the 31 years a team from the section has play in the final game, they have returned home with a title 23 times.
Greene has won seven state titles and is looking for number eight. On Saturday, they will have to take on the undefeated Sir Bills of Johnstown at Vestal High School.
Johnstown defeated Camden of Section III in a thrilling 2-1 overtime win Wednesday to reach the regional final game against the Trojans. Battaglini and her assist were able to make the trek to see the game to get an idea of who they were going to be going against.
“[Johnstown’s] playing style reminds me a lot of a Whitney Point or a Maine-Endwell,” said Greene’s head coach. “They have speed and a few girls that work together really well and were the catalyst of the game as they got the plays going.”
Those players Battaglini is talking about are the forward line of the Sir Bills team. She described them as tough and persistent with strong passing and stick skills and can crash on the cage for the rebound.
Led by leading scorer Taryn Ringer – who had amassed 41 goals so far this season – Johnstown is currently 18-0 for 2019.
Ringer also has 10 assists on the year while other forward Anna Lee and Kalena Eaton have also reached double digits these season. However, Lee, Eaton and fellow teammate Emily Felming are huge in the passing game and set up the Sir Bills’ Ringer for the finish into the back of the game.
“We see a strong forward line with a lot of the teams that we play in the regular season so it is something that we are used to seeing,” said Battaglini. “I think we just need to make sure we are prepared defensively to make stop as well as making sure we are aware of where their main players are and making sure that we stay on our toes to be ready for anything.”
Greene’s head coach has been in the situation before as a player on the 2002 New York State Championship team but this is the first as a head coach. As she was a player of the Trojans for her high school playing career, she is well aware of the history within her program and is looking to join the likes of Nancy Borrows, Nancy Bromley and Sue Carlin – all coaches with state titles for Trojans program.
However, Battaglini wants more than anything for her girls of the 2019 season to experience what she did in 2002.
“It is a surreal feeling at the moment,” she said, “but more than anything I want the girls to know what it feels like to have ‘State Champion’ associated with their name. It’s something that is so rare and to have that title, it’s something that never leaves you.
“And while it would be great to be included with Nancy, Nancy and Sue, I just want to keep winning for my girls and my coaching staff more than anything.”
Battaglini noted that she is not the coach she is without the staff she has and she thanks her assistants Heather Rapp and McKenzie Townsend along with her junior varsity coaches Jessica Becker and Kelly Erickson.
Between the five coaches – three of which were NCAA Division-I players and two were NCAA Division-III All-Americans – Battaglini stated that the knowledge of the sport is strong and that is passed along to the Lady Trojans.
At 11 a.m. Saturday, on the turf field of Vestal High School, the five coaches and the Lady Trojans will look to send their program to the New York State Championship Final Four.
For the last five years, the Whitney Point Eagles have represented Section IV at the New York State Championships and before their dynasty started, there wasn’t a team from the section at the final four – a rare occurrence in the field hockey world.
Drawing the Eagles in the first round of the Section IV Class C tournament this season, Greene immediately started off their playoff journey with a test. Meeting two times prior to the win-or-go home matchup, Whitney Point topped the Trojans in both games.
However, Greene head coach Christine Battaglini felt her team was a different group by the third meeting between the two Class C powerhouse programs.
“It was after the first 1-0 loss to Maine-Endwell, the game where they defeated us in the closing seconds that has really been our turning point for the season,” said the head coach. “It was after that game that I said to myself, ‘wow, that game really looked like we are starting to turn the corner.’”
Following the loss, the Trojans had a 4-6 record, falling below a .500 record in one of the few, if any, times Battaglini took over as head coach of the program.
But the head coach said she wasn’t really worried as it was like something clicked with her girls and they have been on a tear ever since, improving their record to 5-2 that includes wins over Whitney Point in the first round and Marathon – another Section IV dominant team.
In their playoff run, Greene has held their three opponents to one goal combined while the offense has reached a new level with 12 goals in the three games.
“We are starting to peak and come together at the right time,” said Battaglini. “As we are getting to these later games, it so nice to watch. It’s exciting as over the season, things have turned around and we have improved every game. At this point in the season, the little things like the girls trusting each other, having confidence, communicating – all of those thing really being to matter. It’s been a lot of fun.”
After dealing with a tough schedule in the regular season and coming away with a 6-8 record prior to the start of sectionals, Greene was what most sports stories see as the underdog character. However, the Trojans head coach, her staff and the players – though have discussed it – haven’t really believed they were ever the eighth-seeded cinderella story.
“We have played some tough teams all season long,” Battaglini said. “When you have a schedule like most teams do from Section IV, you could very well end up with a record like ours. But no team can ever be counted out of a sectional championship with the history and strong play that we have in this area. Section IV Field Hockey has a lot of history throughout the state.”
Battaglini is not wrong about that.
Since 1984, there have only been four years where a Section IV team has not been one of the two teams in the New York State Championship game. And in the 31 years a team from the section has play in the final game, they have returned home with a title 23 times.
Greene has won seven state titles and is looking for number eight. On Saturday, they will have to take on the undefeated Sir Bills of Johnstown at Vestal High School.
Johnstown defeated Camden of Section III in a thrilling 2-1 overtime win Wednesday to reach the regional final game against the Trojans. Battaglini and her assist were able to make the trek to see the game to get an idea of who they were going to be going against.
“[Johnstown’s] playing style reminds me a lot of a Whitney Point or a Maine-Endwell,” said Greene’s head coach. “They have speed and a few girls that work together really well and were the catalyst of the game as they got the plays going.”
Those players Battaglini is talking about are the forward line of the Sir Bills team. She described them as tough and persistent with strong passing and stick skills and can crash on the cage for the rebound.
Led by leading scorer Taryn Ringer – who had amassed 41 goals so far this season – Johnstown is currently 18-0 for 2019.
Ringer also has 10 assists on the year while other forward Anna Lee and Kalena Eaton have also reached double digits these season. However, Lee, Eaton and fellow teammate Emily Felming are huge in the passing game and set up the Sir Bills’ Ringer for the finish into the back of the game.
“We see a strong forward line with a lot of the teams that we play in the regular season so it is something that we are used to seeing,” said Battaglini. “I think we just need to make sure we are prepared defensively to make stop as well as making sure we are aware of where their main players are and making sure that we stay on our toes to be ready for anything.”
Greene’s head coach has been in the situation before as a player on the 2002 New York State Championship team but this is the first as a head coach. As she was a player of the Trojans for her high school playing career, she is well aware of the history within her program and is looking to join the likes of Nancy Borrows, Nancy Bromley and Sue Carlin – all coaches with state titles for Trojans program.
However, Battaglini wants more than anything for her girls of the 2019 season to experience what she did in 2002.
“It is a surreal feeling at the moment,” she said, “but more than anything I want the girls to know what it feels like to have ‘State Champion’ associated with their name. It’s something that is so rare and to have that title, it’s something that never leaves you.
“And while it would be great to be included with Nancy, Nancy and Sue, I just want to keep winning for my girls and my coaching staff more than anything.”
Battaglini noted that she is not the coach she is without the staff she has and she thanks her assistants Heather Rapp and McKenzie Townsend along with her junior varsity coaches Jessica Becker and Kelly Erickson.
Between the five coaches – three of which were NCAA Division-I players and two were NCAA Division-III All-Americans – Battaglini stated that the knowledge of the sport is strong and that is passed along to the Lady Trojans.
At 11 a.m. Saturday, on the turf field of Vestal High School, the five coaches and the Lady Trojans will look to send their program to the New York State Championship Final Four.
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