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November 10, 2009

PHS girls advance in soccer

Hornets beat Sandstoners for third straight year in soccer regionals

By RYAN HAYNER



MASSENA — Nine minutes into the game, Ashley Menard received a pass from Marle Curle and got her foot on it, sending it toward the goal.

The senior wasn't sure of the result until she was mobbed by teammates.

Her shot hit the roof of the net, the lone goal in Plattsburgh High's 1-0 victory over Potsdam Tuesday in the NYSPHSAA Class B regional first round game at Massena High School.

"I actually had no idea it went in, to be honest," Menard said with an ear-to-ear grin. "I was like, why are all these people hugging me? I must have scored a goal!"

And because she did, the Hornets advance to the second round of regional play for the third consecutive year. Plattsburgh High will take on Section II's Mechanicville Saturday at Stillwater High School. A time has yet to be determined.

All three years its been Potsdam that the Hornets had to get through.

"I talked to (Potsdam coach Joe Stark) about that," Plattsburgh High coach Tim Mulligan said. "He's a great coach and he always has his team prepared. I have a lot of respect for their program, and hopefully we're earning some respect from them, too."

Potsdam's best chance to equalize the score came 15 minutes after Menard's goal, when a Sandstoner shot ricocheted off the right post, allowing the Hornets to clear it away.

The sound of the ball hitting the post was music to Mulligan's ears.

"It wasn't a dangerous chance, it was just a ball that was put in with a chance of going in and sometimes that happens in soccer," he said.

Stark thought that shot off the post helped reinvigorate the Hornets.

"I heard (Mulligan) yell 'Come on, you can't relax you're only up 1-0,' and I know that kind of woke his team up," Stark said.

The Hornets' defense didn't allow many more shots after that. Potsdam did knock a ball off the bottom of a field goal post that was just a foot above the soccer goal in the second half, but Plattsburgh High's defense and midfielders fended off the Sandstoners for the remainder of the game.

"That's a tribute to the ladies in the back. Justine (Rotz) at centerback, Kiley (Wilkins), Megan Jubert on the outside, they played great. And then Meagan Gadzuk-Shea and Hillary Miller in the defensive midfield," Mulligan said, adding that Charisse Abellard also had a strong game.

Both coaches said that when teams advance into the state playoffs, close games are typical and a 1-0 outcome is no surprise with the level of competition.

"Sometimes when you get two good teams going at it, all you get is a 1-0 game," Stark said.

Plattsburgh High's last foray into the second regional round ended in a 3-2 loss to Section II's Ravena.

"We're excited, the girls are playing loose and excited," Mulligan said. "We're looking forward to our next game and a chance to get to the final four."

—

Plattsburgh High 1, Potsdam 0

Plattsburgh High10—1

Potsdam00—0

First half- 1, PHS, Menard (Curle), 9:08.

Shots: Plattsburgh High 5; Potsdam 4.

Saves: Schultz, PHS, 5. Cornett, Potsdam, 4.

E-mail Ryan Hayner at: rhayner@pressrepublican.com

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