Archive: Sports

With a line-up packed with eight Conference All-Stars, the Lady Cats won their sixth straight conference title wrapping up a 1-0 win over Waverly last saturday evening on Ithaca High's turf. In what had been an one-sided affair, leading goal scorer Shea McCartney scored her 19th of the season in the 71st minute on a feed from Joanna Barrett. Barrett made a dashing dribble run from just inside midfield and was able to find McCartney on the right side of the Waverly 18 yard box.

McCartney took two touches to outpace two defenders before slammiing the ball past the Waverly keeper Allie Frutchey and into the far upper corner. It was the only shot of 23 that evaded Frutchey who had 10 saves, including two that were sure goals punched away at the last second.

Waverly, who were in the championship game for the first time, came in on the emotions of their hard fought tie-break win over Elmira Notre Dame. The Big School South champs were put on their heels instantly as Lansing started the game looking like they were content to play keepaway the whole night. Sharp one and two-touch passing was the theme of the first half for the Lansing squad. In build-up after build-up, the Lady Cats ran into resistance in the form of an 8 girl wall that Waverly constructed in their defensive half. When not stopped by the defense, Frutchey was there to stop 7 of Lansing's 11 first half shots.

The second half brought more Lansing pressure as wave after wave of attackers descended upon the oppositions goal box. Frutchey continued to stand tall even after leaving the game temporarily to get a head injury checked out. The closest Lansing had come before the goal was a shot the Barrett smashed off the cross bar five minutes before the winner was scored.

Defensively, the Lady Cats were feisty and organized. The unit of Barrett, Sabrina Tilton, Carlene Fields, Lizzie Barrett and Michelle Schafer stifled any attack that Waverly could muster with timely tackles, smothering double teams  and their own forays into the Waverly defensive end. Senior keeper Rachael Bruce was forced to make one first half save as that was the only shot Waverly would attempt. It was Bruce's 9th shutout of the year.

The win wrapped up the regular season and sends Lansing into the Section Four Class C Tournament seeded first. They will play Newark Valley at 5:30 today at Suny Cortland. The game is a repeat of last years game in which Valley pushed Lansing into overtime before a Lansing goal in the 98th minute saw Lansing move on 3-2. Lansing will be looking to win their 4th Section Four crown in the last 5 years.

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