Archive: Sports

The Lansing Girls Varsity soccer team wrapped up its fourth straight I.A.C Division 1 title and third straight undefeated regular season recently with wins over Trumansburg (7-0), Whitney Point (8-0), Marathon (7-0) and Dryden (4-1). The team scored a whopping 123 goals while conceding just two in a season in which a lofty goal has been set. 

The encounter with T'burg was vastly different than the first in which the teams went into halftime with the score tied 1-1. It was only the 4th time in the last three years that they had been played to a standstill. Tiffanie McIntosh got the scoring rolling for the Lady Cats in the 16th minute with a great individual effort. She was able to beat two defenders off the dribble and unleashed an unstoppable shot to the far corner from 16 yards out.

The game was busted wide open in the last twelve minutes of the half. In the 28th minute second leading scorer Ellyn Grant-Keane scored assisted by Nina Lindberg. Grant-Keane turned provider six minutes later as she fed leading scorer Kathryn Hornibrook for the first of her three goals. It took the girls just two minutes to find the net again as Lydia Warkentin found Cassie Palladino on a corner kick. Palladino rose unmarked and smashed the ball into the back of the net with a perfectly executed header. In what may have been the teams best half of the season, the dynamic duo of Hornibrook and Grant-Keane teamed again for the final goal of the half to make it 5-0. This time it was Grant-Keane scoring her second and Hornibrook assisting in the 38th minute.

The second half saw the Raiders come out with a more committed defensive effort and a back and forth battle ensued with the Lady Cats pouring forward looking for more goals. In the 75th minute Grant-Keane again found her strike partner Hornibrook who finished  the opportunity for her second of the night. The girls in true whistle to whistle fashion scored the last goal of the game with one second on the clock. With 20 seconds to play the ball was at goalkeepers M.C. Barretts feet. Three passes later Ashley Fleming found Hornibrook who beat the clock and T'burg goalkeeper Lindsay Glasner to finish off her hat-trick.

The very next day the team travelled to Whitney Point for their second encounter of the season. It took the girls a little bit to get up to game speed after the track meet that had taken place less than 24 hours before. It was Grant-Keane's turn for the hat-trick of goals on this day. At the 19 minute mark she put the Lady Cats ahead after receiving a ball from Hornibrook. Less than one minute later it was G-K again, this time unassisted and that would wrap up the scoring for the first half.

Seemingly having gotten their legs back, the Lady Cats came out fired up and at their passing best for the second half. With very tightly executed combinations, the team would not be denied possession or chances. G-K scored her third from Lindberg at the 49 minute mark. Three minutes later G-K found Warkentin unmarked at the top of the 18 yard box and the senior midfielder lofted one over the Point keeper. Hornibrook would not be denied as she was fed by Lindberg inside of twelve yards to make it 5-0. Taylor Jordan proceeded to score the next two goals both unassisted. Defender Joanna Barrett rounded out the scoring with a 74th minute penalty kick.

On the 14th the team made their way to Marathon for an afternoon encounter with the number one team in Class C. It would take only 43 seconds for the number two team in Class B to find the back of the net. Warkentin found Lindberg lurking alone at the back post and the junior put the Lady Cats up 1-0. In the 13th minute, it was McIntosh again working her individual magic off the dribble to score unassisted with a low blast to the keepers right. G-K was involved in the next three goals scoring in the 30th and 38th minutes both being assisted by Miss Hornibrook. With  30 seconds left in the half G-K found a streaking Sabrina Tilton on her left at the corner of the 6 yard box. Tilton, a sophomore, scored her first goal of the season after receiving a perfectly weighted pass from the teams assist leader.

Not to be outdone by their first half fireworks, the girls came out smoking in the second. Hornibrook for the third time of the afternoon provided the final pass that led to a goal. Warkentin scored her second in two days after some neat passing and interplay. The senior is enjoying a career year in scoring after spending the past four helping anchor the defense. Mary Bacorn, another senior having her best statistical year, finished off the scoring with an unassisted goal in the 75th minute.

The 16th saw Dryden come to Sobus Field for Senior Night. The "Magnificent 7" came into the game with a cumulative record of 74-4, had never tasted a home defeat and owned three Section IV titles. It would be a tough, physical battle between the two rivals as tackles were flying, along with a few elbows. The Lady Cats matched the Lions intensity and in the 18th minute were rewarded for their efforts. Fresh off the bench, Tilton found time and space on the right wing. With her head up, she was able to get a cross into the near post. There, that pass was met with a first time, right-footed volley from Hornibrook and the Lady Cats found themselves up 1-0. The game continued its basic nature of Lansing attack, Dyden counterattack until there was another break that fell Lansing's way. This time it was Jordan on the left with the cross and Hornibrook with a left-footed volley for her second of the game. With the half coming to a close, the Lady Cats had a rare mental lapse. After a poor clearance by the Lansing defense, a bouncing ball found the foot of Dryden senior Samantha Engel. Engel made no mistake and volleyed the ball over Barrett for only the second conceded goal by the usually impregnable defense.

After an extended halftime to honor the seniors, Lansing's response to being scored upon was almost immediate. Pressing forward with playoff intensity, the Lady Cats forced a corner kick. After a short scramble, the ball found its way to senior Katy Bland who finished the business and put the girls back up two in the 47th minute. The Lions continued to rely on swift counters to alleviate what seemed to be unending Lansing pressure. It would again be the Lady Cats that would find the opportunity and put the game out of reach. Hornibrook scored her third and Lansing's last after being played through by center-mid McIntosh. Too fast to be caught from behind, it was juniors 31st goal of the season.

With the regular season now complete, the real season begins for this group. First up is the defense of its I.A.C Conference crown. The team faces off against Elmira Notre Dame this saturday evening at TC3. The game will be played at 5PM followed by the Lansing boys against Watkins Glen. The girls have been seeded third in Section IV playoffs and have received a first round bye. They will play host to the winner of Whitney Point/ Dryden on 10/30 at 3:30.

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