Rye girls advanced to the State playoffs after winning the Class C Regional Championship against Albany Academy. But the Garnets narrowly lost a tough semifinal match Friday 12-9 to Honeoye Falls-Lima.
By Melanie Cane
Rye girls advanced to the State playoffs after winning the Class C Regional Championship against Albany Academy. But the Garnets narrowly lost a tough State semifinal match Friday 12-9 in Cortland.
Rye led 7-3 at the half, and 8-7 with 12 minutes left, but the Honeoye Falls-Lima fought back with four straight goals. The Cougars advanced to Saturday’s State Championship final against Shoreham-Wading River.
Rye girls advanced to Friday’s State playoffs by defeating Albany Academy 18-5 Saturday.
On May 25, Rye won the Class C Section 1 Championship by defeating Byram Hills 12-11. The Garnets then topped Red Hook 17-3 May 30 in the Regional semifinal playoff.
After winning both the League championship game and the Regional semifinal game in dramatic one-point wins that came down to the final seconds of the game, the girls have overwhelmed their opponents doing what they do best: playing superb ball like a well-oiled machine.
Coach Dennis Hurlie said, “When you play your best, good things will happen.”
Tri-captain Tori Virtue said, “We knew that Albany might try to faceguard a few of our key players, but thankfully we have seven offenders on the field who can handle the ball and score. They were unable to shut us all out.”
In the two Regional playoff games, Emma Brinkman led her team with a total of 13 goals. Three other players scored five goals apiece. Goalie Maddie Kinker had eight saves.
Kinker said, “Winning the Regional championship was super exciting, not only because we get to go to States for the first time during my high school career, but also because as a team we get to stay together for one more week. The fact that we’ve made it this far during my senior year has truly been a fairytale.”
The last time Rye advanced to the State semifinals was in 2006.
“I am so happy for them,’’ Hurlie said. “They are such a special group of girls who carry themselves with class.”
