TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 6/11/13
Staff Report
CORTLAND, N.Y. – Marisa Romeo and Taylor Poplawski combined for 10 goals Saturday when Christian Brothers Academy defeated brighton, 14-7, for the New York Class B girls’ state championship at SUNY-Cortland.
But CBA coach Doug Sedgwick said it was defense that stood out just as much as his two standouts.
“It’s the best I’ve had in nine years here of coaching,” Sedgwick said. “What that defense did out there was stifling.
“They won most of the draws; they just would come down into our defensive end and they couldn’t score.”
The title came for CBA (19-2) in its first year of play in Class B. The Brothers, who closed the year with 14 straight wins, had won the Class C crown in 2011.
Romeo had six goals and two assists and Poplawski (Tourney MVP) scored four times. Brighton (18-4) had shocked Long Island champion Manhasset (ranked No. 8 by TopLaxRecruits.com), 9-8, in the semifinals.
“Everybody was talking about how they (Brighton) beat Manhasset, and that they were going to cruise over CBA,” said Sedgwick. “And that’s enough motivation for anybody. All year long this team has produced.”
CBA built a 5-1 lead and was never threatened in the game.
“We all knew we had to work together if we wanted to bring home this championship,” said Poplawski. “It’s not just a one- or two-man team, it’s 24 strong.
“It feels so good. Especially for us seniors to go out with a bang. It’s nice.
“This was our main goal all the way,” added Romeo. “I can’t explain the feeling. Taylor was just out of her mind going to the cage. I knew they couldn’t stop her.”
Brighton is state runner-up for the fifth time; the Barons also finished second in Class B in 2006, 2008 and 2011 and in Div. I in 2004, and were state champs in Class B in 2005.
“We just seemed to throw the ball all over the place,” said Brighton coach Rich Curtis. “That’s not normal for us. It’s a game I haven’t seen all year from us.”
Class A
Farmingdale 8, Baldwinsville 5
Tourney MVP Nadine Hadnagy had three goals and an assist as the Dalers won their third state title since 2009.
Tara Waolf and Amanda Turturro each added two goals for Farmingdale and Olivia Kirk made three saves behind a strong defense.
The Dalers (16-3) had blitzed the Bees (15-6), 16-5, in their second game of the year. This game was close throughout, but Hadnagy scored twice to put her team up 6-4 early in the second half.
“We knew for sure they were going to be (better than first game),” said Farmingdale coach Shari Campbell. “We pride ourselves on our defense. I always say, offense will win games, but defense wins championships.”
Baldwinsville was led by Kennedy Frink, who had a goal and an assist.
“They were playing really smart on offense, moving the ball quickly,” Frink said. “It was making it tough for our defense to get the ball back.”
“They played really well,” added Baldwinsville middie Amari Pollard. “We improved so much, that there’s really nothing you can be upset about. It’s bittersweet.”
Class C
Mt. Sinai 15, Skaneateles 6
The fifth-ranked Mustangs used a 10-0 run to reverse a 3-0 deficit and close a perfect season at 20-0 for their first state title.
Shayna Pirreca and sister Sydney Pirreca each scored four goals while tourney MVP Caroline Fitzgerald and Danielle DellaRocca each tallied three for Mt, Sinai, which had defeated Honeoye Falls-Lima, 7-6, in overtime in the semifinals.
Mustangs coach Al Bertolone said he called timeout to calm down his Section VIII champions after the slow start.
“We just had to settle in a little bit,” he said. “We had to win a draw, get a goal, and then the floodgates opened.”
Skaneateles (19-3) is state runner-up for the fourth time; the Lakers were previously second in Class C in 2007 and 2008 and second in Div. II in 1996 (along with state Class C titles in 2005 and 2006).
Molly Wood had three goals for the Lakers.
“We had all of the momentum, but something clicked (for them) after that first time out,” Wood said.
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