The Voorheesville girls soccer team’s run in the Section 2 Class B playoffs ended on a cold, damp afternoon in Lansingburgh.
Alexis Riffelbach scored off a rebound one minute into the second overtime period to lift No. 3 Catholic Central to a 2-1 victory over the fourth-seeded Blackbirds in the Sectional finals Saturday, Nov. 1.
Voorheesville (16-3-1) entered the final off a 1-0 upset victory over top-seeded Schalmont – the state’s No. 1-ranked Class B team – Wednesday, Oct. 29, on the same Lansingburgh High School field Saturday’s championship game took place. But this time, the Blackbirds couldn’t recapture the magic.
“Ever since I’ve been coaching at Voorheesville, this has been our best season,” said coach Joe Santos. “This has been a great run, and it hasn’t been by accident.”
Most of Saturday’s final was a combination of skill and bad luck. Catholic Central (18-2-0) challenged Voorheesville goaltender Jordan Pettograsso with well-placed shots, while Voorheesville missed several golden scoring opportunities when their shots hit off posts while Crusaders netminder Dominique Stavis was caught out of position.
“I’ve been involved in games like this before. It just wasn’t meant to be,” said Santos.
Pettograsso was up to the challenge, as she made 23 saves against a Catholic Central team that was coming off a 6-2 semifinal win against No. 2 Hoosick Falls three days earlier.
“She’s a skilled goalie,” said Santos. “She had a breakout season, and she showed her skill in the playoffs.”
There was nothing Pettograsso could do about stopping Catholic Central’s first goal, though. Lauren Drake launched a high line drive that sailed over Pettograsso and into the upper third of the net to put the Crusaders ahead 1-0 with 6:17 left in the second half.
It looked as if the game would end with that score until Voorheesville got a bounce to go its way. With less than 30 seconds left in regulation, Lydia Parker launched a long, high pass from near the midfield stripe. The ball bounced high off the wet turf in the penalty box and past Stavis into the goal to tie the score at 1-1.
“That’s the type of play I ask the girls to make in these kinds of weather conditions. You never know how the ball will bounce,” said Santos.
Unfortunately for Voorheesville, the final bounce went Catholic Central’s way. Pettograsso went to catch a line drive shot, but the ball bounced off her chest and onto Riffelbach’s feet at close range. Riffelbach knocked the ball into the goal to put the Crusaders ahead to stay.
Catholic Central advances to the regional round of the state playoffs for the first time in school history. The Crusaders met Section 3 champion Westhill Tuesday outside Syracuse.