CHAZY — There aren't too many things in life that you can count on.

One of things you can, however, is the Chazy girls' soccer team representing Section VII in the Class D Final Four.

The Eagles land in today's semifinal match for the seventh consecutive year and the ninth time in the past 10 years.

Coach Karin Sherman-Trombley took over the Chazy program in 2008 and has led the girls to a 79-4-1 record over that time, including four semifinal appearances, two title-game appearances and last year's Class D state championship.

The top-ranked Eagles will play Remsen, also ranked No. 1, in the semifinals at 11 a.m. today at Cortland High School. The championship contest will be held at Tompkins-Cortland Community College at 11 a.m. Sunday.

"Every year this is where we want to be," Sherman-Trombley said. "We want to go to the last week of soccer, and this is our last week of postseason play.

"Since we stepped on the field in August, our mission and our goal was to make it to the Final Four. We have to take it game-by-game."

Caitlyn LaPier, who was recently selected as the Northern Soccer League Div. II MVP, leads Chazy in scoring with 63 points (19-25).

The Eagles have also received strong offensive numbers from Megan Reynolds (13-10-36), Hannah Laurin (15-4-34) and Kirsten Doran (10-7-27).

"A lot of us our confident, but not cocky," LaPier said. "We are better when we are a confident team.

"We are so excited. It is an honor to be going back again. This is my fifth year, and it's just as exciting."

As the defending champion, Chazy has had a target on its back all season long but has made it through mostly unscathed with a 19-1 record.

"There's definitely more pressure," Doran said. "But this is why we get better.

"Obviously, winning once we know what it feels like. And it's so amazing to win."

The Eagles have been praised all season long for their amazing offense, and with 82 goals on the season it's easy to see why. But Chazy also has a strong defense, anchored by goalkeeper Katharine Tooke, who has 14 shutouts on the season.

"We have no weaknesses," Tooke said. "When a team looks at us, we have a strong offense, a really strong midfield that can control the ball and we have a solid defense.

"And, at goalkeeper, I guess we're okay."

The Eagles will need to stay focused defensively today as the Rams have a very potent offense.

Remsen has scored 100 goals on the season led by Erin O'Connor (37-13-87), Joleen Marfone (18-6-42), Jessica Taylor (11-11-33) and Ashley O'Connor (10-9-29).

The Rams made it to this weekend's Final Four with a perfect 18-0 record. In their last contest, they defeated Section IV's Morris, 2-0.

Erin O'Connor and Marfone supplied the goals.

Chazy hasn't found itself in too many close games this season.

Its only loss came during the second game of the season, 2-1, to Class B's Peru. Ticonderoga held the Eagles to just one goal in their matchup, tied for the least amount all season.

In the regional championship, Chazy escaped Section X's Chateaugay with a 2-1 decision.

"The Chateaugay game actually made us feel a little better," LaPier said. "When they got that goal, we were able to score 43 seconds later. Not one person panicked.

"I would rather have a game like that than a blowout heading into the Final Four."

"It's a lesson learned," Sherman-Trombley said. "We walked away from that game barely winning. They gave us a run for our money. I don't think we played our best game, but they took us out of our game, and they did a great job.

"It's definitely a lesson learned, but it prepares us and makes us stronger for the weekend."

That score mirrors what happened in last season's regional final, when Chazy again held off Chateaugay, 2-1. After that scare, the Eagles captured a 2-0 win over Ellicottville in the semifinals and then defeated Smithtown Christian, 3-1, to win the state title.

"After winning last year, our mission this year is to go back-to-back and win it again and keep Chazy on top," Sherman-Trombley said. "As a coach, to make it to the Final Four is a great accomplishment. There are a lot of teams that haven't been playing for the last couple of weeks.

"I am so proud of the girls either way, but our mission is to take the whole weekend and win the whole thing."

—

Chazy Eagles

Coach: Karin Sherman-Trombley

Record: 19-1

Scoring-opp: 82-9

State ranking: 1 (tie)

Player     g     a     pt

Hannah Laurin     15     4     34

Amanda Kempainen     8     3     19

Rachel Pombrio     4     4     12

Caitlyn LaPier     19     25     63

Jori Cooper     3     1     7

Megan Reynolds     13     10     36

Amber Polomsky     4     4     12

Kirsten Doran     10     7     27

Christina Emery     6     5     17

Goalkeeping

Player     gp     ga     sv     sho

Katharine Tooke     20     9     60     14

Remsen Rams

Coach: Jim Wilder

Record: 18-0

Scoring-opp: 100-10

State ranking: 1 (tie)

Player     g     a     pt

Erin O'Connor      37     13     87

Joleen Marfone      18     6     42

Jessica Taylor      11     11     33

Ashley O'Connor      10     9     29

Brittany Waterbury      6     9     21

Lizzy Swasey      7     2     16

Maria Roberts      3     4     10

Melanie Carlson      2     3     7

Emily Runninger      2     2     6

Cortney Taylor      0     3     3

Goalkeeping

Player     gp     ga     sv     sho

Megan Will      18      8      147     11