Archive: Sports

Most teams suffering the lose of seven seniors, three of which were all-staters,  might find themselves a tad bit under fire. That has not been the case of the 2010 version of the Lansing HS girls varsity soccer team. A perfect blend of aged experience and exuberant youth finds the four-time defending Section Four champs where it can usually be found, in early season form at the top of the division.

Going into tonight's 7pm home contest against Dryden, the Lady Cats are 5-0 and have outscored their opponents 39-3. As in years past, the team has been fearless on the attack and is getting back its defend at all costs mentality. Led by four four-year varsity playing seniors its seems as the more things change, the more they stay they same.

Up first for the team was the home opener against Union Springs. Freshman Elena Parkins got the season off to a flying start by smashing a 25-yard rocket by the Springs netminder to score the first goal of the season. Junior Soroya Leathers scored the second off a feed from senior Taylor Jordan and senior Kathryn Hornibrook rounded out the scoring in the first half. Hornibrook and senior strike partner Nina Lindberg took turns providing for each other for the next two Lansing goals before juniors Joanna Barrett and Tiffanie McIntosh hooked up for a short corner kick.

After playing McIntosh, Barrett received a return pass and beat the keeper with a low drive to the near post from a tight angle 10 yards out for a 6-0 lead. Lindberg would keep a familiar theme going, again playing provider to Hornibrook for her third of the game. Jordan would score the next two, the first a one-time volley off a Barrett corner and the second unassisted. Barrett again would set the table for Leathers for the last goal of the night, another corner and a headed goal to make a perfect "10". Junior Rachael Bruce was in net for Lansing and got the shutout.

Game two saw the team hook up with Southern Cayuga on the road. Jordan scored the first from McIntosh and Lindberg the second from Hornibrook for a 2-0 lead at the half. The second half began with a Hornibrook trio of goals, the first unassisted and the second two from Lindberg. Lindberg continued in fine form laying off another pass for another Leathers goal before tucking in one for herself from Barrett. Junior Sabrina Tilton scored her first goal of the season off a feed from eighth-grader Shea McCartney. Lindberg finished off a four assist day with a pass that McIntosh converted before senior Cassie Palladino scored the last unassisted.

Up next for the girls was an engaging encounter with Groton. It took all of 90 seconds for the Cats to hit the board. Parkins finding Hornibrook would provide the first. Two minutes later would find Lansing in unfamiliar place. After a long clearance out of the Groton back third, a Groton attacker would be felled in the Lansing penalty box. Jenna Shufelt calmly beat Lansing keeper Bruce and the game was tied after the penalty kick. Lansing would respond twice with two unassisted goals by Parkins before Groton would again shock the hosts. Another long ball led to breakaway that Ruthanne Forehand would convert to make it 3-2 Lansing. The response this time would be ruthless in its efficiency. Barrett to Jordan, McCartney to Barrett, McIntosh to Hornibrook. Six minutes, three goals and all was right in the Lansing universe again. Lansing would not be finished though.

The last 12 minutes of the half saw two more goals each from Hornibrook and Leathers, each assisted by the other. The second half saw the team hit for four more goals. Shea McCartney, junior Carlene Fields, eighth graders Maura McCartney and Julia Barrett all scored their first goals of the season for a 14-2 win.

The Raiders from Trumansburg would be welcomed to Sobus Field for the first night game of the year this past monday. In a hotly contested physical encounter it would be the first true test of the season for the still improving Lady Cats.

The pace of the game had quickened and the team played with a vigor not exhibited in its previous three games. With its possession game rolling and off the ball movement in synch, the Cats pressed early and often. It would be the girls from T'burb who would stun the hosts in lightning fashion. Junior Ali Grunder latched on to a longball and outraced the Lansing backline and beat the approaching Bruce to the low right corner. Lansing had not given up the first goal in a sectional game since 2006. There would be no panic on the part of the Lady Cats. A tactical adjustment was made and Lansing would continue to run at the T'burg goalbox. The break came at the 21 minute mark as Hornibrook found herself on the endline to the right of the Raiders goal. A deftly timed and placed slotted ball found Joanna Barrett streaking in from her midfield position

12 yards out and unmarked. With power and precision, Barrett one-timed an unstoppable blast past goalkeeper Shannon Weber. The teams would go into the half tied. Knowing the battle would be decided with the next goal, Lansing came out pressing. T'burg in an effort to relieve some early pressure cleared out of their 18 yd box only to have Jo. Barrett play that ball back over the top to an on rushing Hornibrook. The goal hungry senior ran by the last defender and smashed a low drive by the keeper to put Lansing up for good. The ladies continued to press with tight sharp passing and a new found intensity and defensive focus. Jordan was taken down just outside the Raiders penalty box with

13 minutes to go. The senior, on the ensuing freekick, found McIntosh at the nearpost and the junior, who is back from a season ending knee injury, cut the ball back across the face of the goal and into the far post for the final score, 3-1 Lansing.

Lansing would venture to Marathon on wednesday for a hook-up with the Class C power.

The tired legged girls from Lansing would take no time at all to let their intentions be known. Jordan would be released down the left flank and as she has done her entire career, she found time and space to provide the final pass to be tucked in. A low ball to the near post would be met by Hornibrook who one-timed a left footed shot past the stunned keeper for a 1-0 advantage. Time elapsed, 58 seconds. Marathon would respond by tightly marking Hornibrook the rest of the half with Lansing having the lionshare of the possession.

Lightning immediately struck again. This time it only took 40 seconds. Lindberg and Hornibrook linked again for a quick give and go. Hornibrook's shot found its way through the Marathon's keepers hands and into the back of the net. That would be all the scoring as the Lansing girls killed off the game with more sharp passing movements and  a nasty defense anchored by Palladino and Jo. Barrett.

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