Lady Trojans’ late game effort falls seconds short of comeback
Greene’s Alex Brown takes a shot attempt late midway through the second half after receiving a pass from Jess Unkel (18). Brown scored on the play to cut the lead down to one goal but the Trojans fell 2-1 to Section II Champion Johnstown. (Dan Gilmore Photo)
Johnstown’s first-half goals enough for win
VESTAL – With the clock winding down in the closing seconds of the New York State Regional championship game, Greene’s Jess Unkel gave every ounce of effort she had. The junior reached out to get her stick on the ball with hopes of tapping a shot into the open left side of the net.
Missing by inches, the ball rolled wide and the Johnstown Sir Bills ran onto the field in celebration in the 2-1 win over the Lady Trojans, bringing Greene’s amazing season to an end.
“Everyone should be proud of their accomplishments and what they have done this season,” said Trojans’ head coach Christine Battaglini. “We have been here now and we know what it’s like. We just have to be hungry for this next season.”
Trailing by two to start the second half, the Lady Trojans knew they had to shake off the nerves and jitters in order to get themselves back into the game against the undefeated, Section II champion Sir Bills of Johnstown.
Coming out of the locker room on a mission, Greene kept the offensive pressure up as they nearly doubled their shot attempts from the first half. Johnstown only saw the ball in their offensive third a few times and did not take a shot in the second half.
“I think holding them without a shot in the second was because we didn’t have the jitters anymore,” Battalgini said. “We had settled into what we were supposed to be doing and we had control of the so there weren’t very many chances for them to get a chance in the circle or a shot off.”
In the first half, Johnstown benefited from the penalty corner opportunities awarded as they scored both of their goals on the advantage play.
The first goal came at the 9:05 mark by Johnstown’s Anna Lee, tapping the ball into the cage. The initial shot attempt off the corner brought Greene’s keeper Brooke Austin out of the goal as she aggressively tried to get the ball out of harm’s away. But Lee stayed with the play and followed up with a shot that went rolling into the cage.
Later in the half, after back-to-back penalty corners for Greene couldn’t bring the equalizer, the Sir Bills brought the counter attack down the field and set up another corner play. This time, it was Johnstown’s leading score Taryn Ringer finishing the corner with a goal to put her team of 2-0.
The rest of the half finished out at the same score and the Lady Trojans went into the warm locker room while the Sir Bills stayed out on the field for the intermission.
“I told the girls that is was a lot of time left,” said Battaglini. “30 minutes is a lot of time in field hockey and we have scored two goals in four minutes before. Making up two goals wasn’t a hard task for us. We have been in that position before.
“We, as coaches, made some adjustments to our defense and certain things to do when taking the ball into the circle and it started to work for us. We just came out more intense in the second half and I think that was the thing that was the difference.”
The Lady Trojans heard what their head coach had to say and came out to control the play in the second half, shifting the momentum in their favor quickly.
Greene’s offensive pressure in the second half put the Johnstown team on the ropes and the Lady Trojans waited to take advantage of a Sir Bills’ defensive miscue.
After several penalty corners were awarded and several chances by Greene went wide of the goal or were turned away, Madison Rice, Unkel and Alex Brown made the fourth corner of the half count.
Rice served in the corner from the right side of the cage to Unkel. Like she has done all season, Unkel dished a pass to the open Brown on the left side and her teammate ripped off a shot that then went off the backboard of the goal, sounding the goal with 10:51 left in the game.
Many shots after the Greene goal just missed the cage or were stopped by Johnstown’s keeper. One counterattack by the Sir Bills was stopped before a shot attempt could be taken as Austin kicked the ball away, starting Greene’s next trip into their offensive third of the field.
However, no goals were scored in the remaining time and the game ended with the one goal difference.
“I said to them after the game, ‘It’s not fun losing and it’s not fun being on this end,’” said the Greene head coach. “I didn’t think we were going to be there but Johnstown played the full 60 minutes. Unfortunately, we had our chances and they did to. They capitalized on a couple of of more than we did.”
The Lady Trojans end the season with their first Section IV title in seven years and a record of 9-9.
“It’s been incredible to see the girls continue to work hard and not get discouraged during those stretches where we had a couple of losses in a row,” said Battaglini. “That can really dishearten girls when there were high expectations for us before the season started.
“The girls really pulled through and kept believing in themselves and I’m extremely proud of every single one of them. I think we have come a long way. Now that have a taste of what it is like to be here, hopefully this will be the push they need every year.”
As Greene has just four seniors leaving the team, they will see 16 players return for the 2020 season.
Johnstown 2, Greene 1
J 2 0 – 2
G 0 1 – 1
Goals-Assists: (J) Anna Lee 1-0, Taryn Ringer 1-0; (G) Alex Brown 1-0, Jess Unkel 0-1.
Shots-Penalty Corners: (J) 7- 4; (G) 8-8.
Saves: (J) Abby VanValkenburgh 6; (G) Brooke Austin 3, Def. Save by Bri Austin.
VESTAL – With the clock winding down in the closing seconds of the New York State Regional championship game, Greene’s Jess Unkel gave every ounce of effort she had. The junior reached out to get her stick on the ball with hopes of tapping a shot into the open left side of the net.
Missing by inches, the ball rolled wide and the Johnstown Sir Bills ran onto the field in celebration in the 2-1 win over the Lady Trojans, bringing Greene’s amazing season to an end.
“Everyone should be proud of their accomplishments and what they have done this season,” said Trojans’ head coach Christine Battaglini. “We have been here now and we know what it’s like. We just have to be hungry for this next season.”
Trailing by two to start the second half, the Lady Trojans knew they had to shake off the nerves and jitters in order to get themselves back into the game against the undefeated, Section II champion Sir Bills of Johnstown.
Coming out of the locker room on a mission, Greene kept the offensive pressure up as they nearly doubled their shot attempts from the first half. Johnstown only saw the ball in their offensive third a few times and did not take a shot in the second half.
“I think holding them without a shot in the second was because we didn’t have the jitters anymore,” Battalgini said. “We had settled into what we were supposed to be doing and we had control of the so there weren’t very many chances for them to get a chance in the circle or a shot off.”
In the first half, Johnstown benefited from the penalty corner opportunities awarded as they scored both of their goals on the advantage play.
The first goal came at the 9:05 mark by Johnstown’s Anna Lee, tapping the ball into the cage. The initial shot attempt off the corner brought Greene’s keeper Brooke Austin out of the goal as she aggressively tried to get the ball out of harm’s away. But Lee stayed with the play and followed up with a shot that went rolling into the cage.
Later in the half, after back-to-back penalty corners for Greene couldn’t bring the equalizer, the Sir Bills brought the counter attack down the field and set up another corner play. This time, it was Johnstown’s leading score Taryn Ringer finishing the corner with a goal to put her team of 2-0.
The rest of the half finished out at the same score and the Lady Trojans went into the warm locker room while the Sir Bills stayed out on the field for the intermission.
“I told the girls that is was a lot of time left,” said Battaglini. “30 minutes is a lot of time in field hockey and we have scored two goals in four minutes before. Making up two goals wasn’t a hard task for us. We have been in that position before.
“We, as coaches, made some adjustments to our defense and certain things to do when taking the ball into the circle and it started to work for us. We just came out more intense in the second half and I think that was the thing that was the difference.”
The Lady Trojans heard what their head coach had to say and came out to control the play in the second half, shifting the momentum in their favor quickly.
Greene’s offensive pressure in the second half put the Johnstown team on the ropes and the Lady Trojans waited to take advantage of a Sir Bills’ defensive miscue.
After several penalty corners were awarded and several chances by Greene went wide of the goal or were turned away, Madison Rice, Unkel and Alex Brown made the fourth corner of the half count.
Rice served in the corner from the right side of the cage to Unkel. Like she has done all season, Unkel dished a pass to the open Brown on the left side and her teammate ripped off a shot that then went off the backboard of the goal, sounding the goal with 10:51 left in the game.
Many shots after the Greene goal just missed the cage or were stopped by Johnstown’s keeper. One counterattack by the Sir Bills was stopped before a shot attempt could be taken as Austin kicked the ball away, starting Greene’s next trip into their offensive third of the field.
However, no goals were scored in the remaining time and the game ended with the one goal difference.
“I said to them after the game, ‘It’s not fun losing and it’s not fun being on this end,’” said the Greene head coach. “I didn’t think we were going to be there but Johnstown played the full 60 minutes. Unfortunately, we had our chances and they did to. They capitalized on a couple of of more than we did.”
The Lady Trojans end the season with their first Section IV title in seven years and a record of 9-9.
“It’s been incredible to see the girls continue to work hard and not get discouraged during those stretches where we had a couple of losses in a row,” said Battaglini. “That can really dishearten girls when there were high expectations for us before the season started.
“The girls really pulled through and kept believing in themselves and I’m extremely proud of every single one of them. I think we have come a long way. Now that have a taste of what it is like to be here, hopefully this will be the push they need every year.”
As Greene has just four seniors leaving the team, they will see 16 players return for the 2020 season.
Johnstown 2, Greene 1
J 2 0 – 2
G 0 1 – 1
Goals-Assists: (J) Anna Lee 1-0, Taryn Ringer 1-0; (G) Alex Brown 1-0, Jess Unkel 0-1.
Shots-Penalty Corners: (J) 7- 4; (G) 8-8.
Saves: (J) Abby VanValkenburgh 6; (G) Brooke Austin 3, Def. Save by Bri Austin.
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