CHEERS to the Chazy girls soccer team for their impressive season, which culminated in winning the state championship. This season, Chazy outscored opponents 86-12. What's more, the girls trailed in only two games from opening day to the grand finale. But when they faced those challenges, they rose to the occasion like the champions they are.
Against Remsen in the semifinals, Chazy went down 1-0 just 3 minutes into the game. The Eagles tied it up before the half, but Remsen took a 3-1 lead in the second half. Chazy rallied again, scoring twice in the final 11 minutes to force overtime. The game-tying goal was scored by freshman Hannah Laurin, with 50 seconds left, on a perfect pass from senior and fifth-year varsity player Caitlyn LaPier. After two 10-minute overtime periods and two 5-minute sudden-death periods, the bruised, battered and exhausted Chazy team won in penalty kicks scored by LaPier, Kirsten Doran and Megan Reynolds.
Against Northville in the championship game, the Eagles had numerous chances to score but were turned away by a tough defense. With less than 3 minutes left in regulation, a Northville player was called for a handball. That set up Doran's penalty kick. LaPier and Reynolds wanted her to take the shot because they said she never misses in practice. She sent her shot into the lower right corner of the net, and that was all Chazy needed.
The Chazy girls have now won three state titles, in 2007, 2010 and 2011. Coach Karin Sherman-Trombley and hard-working team members who learned, during the season, to support each other have proven they are winners in every sense of the word.
CHEERS to volunteers from Church of the Nazarene in Plattsburgh for the work they have been doing to help the City of Plattsburgh care for a downtown site. Pastor Kevin Finley and church members have been painting some of the Smith Weed Bridge and also pick up garbage in that area. City Department of Public Works Superintendent Mike Brodi explained how it all came about: "I was approached by Pastor Finley three years ago, and at the time, the Smith Weed Bridge was getting hit with heavy graffiti. We worked out a deal; we supplied the paint, rollers and garbage bags, the church members then painted the underneath area of the bridge and also policed along the rail and river bank. ... They would return the supplies, and we would pick up the garbage in designated locations.
"This is really appreciated," Brodi said, "and they do an outstanding job."
This is an example of citizen-government cooperation that benefits all visitors to downtown Plattsburgh.
— If you have a Cheers and Jeers suggestion that you want the Editorial Board to consider, e-mail it to Editor Lois Clermont at letters@pressrepublican.com.
