Price scores twice to lead Bethlehem
Eagles set to take on Monroe-woodbury for state championship
b7 Stillwater, Fort Ann girls advance in Class C and Class D.
Brianna Price picked the best time to have her first two-goal game.
The Bethlehem senior’s scoring moved her girls’ soccer team one win from a state title.
Twice this decade the Eagles reached the Class A state final only to lose. Saturday, at Tompkins-cortland Community College, the Section II champion beat Clarence 2-1 and Price was the biggest reason why.
“It feels awesome,” Price said. “Coach tells us to stay with rebounds.”
Bethlehem will play Section IX’S Monroe-woodbury at 1:15 p.m. Sunday for the state championship.
Both of Price’s goals came when Clarence goalie Lauren Staley made a nice save but could not hold onto the ball. The first came in the 28th minute, the
second in the 67th.
In between, Clarence, Section VI’S five-time defending sectional and regional champion, had a penalty kick goal.
“Except for giving up the penalty kick, we did the job defensively,” said 20-year veteran Bethlehem coach Tom Rogan.
The game started slowly as midfield play dominated. Then Joanna Vanroyen had a shot go just wide left for the Eagles in the 12th minute. Seventh grader Claire Hutton and senior Grace Hotaling created some good chances in the next few minutes before Clarence toughened on defense.
Emma Faso had two good chances for the Red Devils as well midway in the half, but
Piper Gregory blocked one on defense and goalie Shannon Donnelly saved the second attempt easily. Finally, Price followed a shot by Grace Hotaling for the game’s first goal.
Megan Mccraith answered with the penalty kick less than three minutes later.
Clarence junior Olivia Argentieri
had a cross into the goal area that set up the play that led to the penalty kick. Mccraith made a low, hard shot to the left.
Not much happened the rest of the first half and it stayed a defensive battle until Price scored again.
A long direct kick by Beatrice Jones started the play and Vanroyen took a shot that Staley stopped. But the ball came loose just enough for Price to tap in the game-winning goal.
Staley made four saves as time wound down to give her team a chance to force overtime, and it almost happened in the final seconds. Argentieri sent a pass to Olivia Grande on the right wing and the Clarence captain’s shot forced Donnelly to slap the ball barely over the goal. The ensuing corner kick was headed just wide with four seconds left.
“We played well today, but maybe they were a little better,” Red Devils coach David Stephan said.
Bethlehem was, and Rogan was glad for it.
“I think we played really well,” Rogan said.