Kingston, Rondout extend title reigns
Tigers blank Pine Bush for Class A championship, while Ganders shut out Red Hook to win Class B crown
Kingston, Rondout Valley and Taconic Hills’ field hockey teams captured Section 9 championships during a title tripleheader at Rondout Sunday.
Kingston downed Pine Bush 7-0 for its 14th consecutive Class A title, while Rondout defeated Red Hook 3-0 for a 10th straight Class B crown. Taconic Hills bested Pine Plains 2-0 for Class C honors,
Kingston 7, Pine Bush 0
Hannah Timbrouck’s hat trick led Kingston over a tough Pine Bush team that kept the match tight in the first half. The Tigers scored four goals in the third quarter to pull away.
“Pine Bush played very well first half, moving the ball quickly down the field and keeping Kingston on the defensive side,” said Tigers coach David Beams, whose team grabbed an early 2-0 lead but couldn’t add to it for the rest of the half. “Over time, Kingston settled down and started to execute on offense. We did a better job with our spacing on offense and looked down field to find open passing lanes. Kingston defense was once again solid.”
Niara Franklin had a goal and one assist, and Kaitlyn Albright, Norah Prizzi and Sophia Georges also scored for Kingston. Goalkeeper Kara Houston, who didn’t have to make a save, got the shutout.
Anna Jages made 15 saves for Pine Bush.
Rondout 3, Red Hook 0
Adjustments made since losing to Red Hook two weeks ago paid off for Rondout as it continued its Class B reign.
“Red Hook has a very good team and we knew we had to step it up after our loss two weeks ago to them,” Ganders coach Nanette Simione said.
“I thought we were able to put it all together today,” she added. “There are many things that we have worked on the last couple of weeks to execute on attack, especially on corners and we were able to score on two corners due to staying with the play and pressuring after the initial shot. Also, we discussed how important our positioning on defense was to win the ball back and we did well with this today.”
Rondout outshot Red Hook 25-6 and had 12 penalty corners to the Raiders’ six.
Lucia Coache put Rondout ahead off a Lauren Dunn assist in the first quarter, then Mackenzie Heyl’s unassisted goal made it 2-0 by halftime. Sophia Schoonmaker converted a penalty stroke in the third quarter.
Rondout keeper Azure Jones, who had no saves, posted the shutout win. Red Hook’s Phoenix Mercier recorded 13 saves.
Taconic Hills 2, Pine Plains 0
Pine Plains controlled the first quarter, but couldn’t score.
“By the second quarter, we turned it around and picked up momentum,” Taconic Hills coach Angela Webster said.
Jennie Beck scored off Rylee Jause’s assist 2:48 into the second half to put Taconic ahead. Marilyn Roque-Velasquez produced a big insurance goal early in the fourth quarter.
“I couldn’t be more proud with how this team improved throughout this season,” Webster said. “They worked hard and how we finished is their reward.”
Titans goalie Sydney Kiernan stopped six shots to get the shutout. Pine Plains’ Alyssa Bathrick also had six saves.