Groton, Ithaca girls soccer win sectionals; Ithaca boys runner-up

A trio of local soccer teams took part in Section IV championships last week. Groton and Ithaca girls soccer punched their tickets to the New York State Tournament, while Ithaca boys soccer fell just shy of winning a sectional title.

Red Hawks soar to glory

For the first time in 38 years, Groton girls soccer are Section IV champions. The long drought was extinguished on November 1 in Sidney when they took on Elmira-Notre Dame. The Red Hawks came out on top 1-0 thanks to a long-range strike from Jill Zigenfus early in the second half.

It was only fitting that Zigenfus—one of 10 seniors on the team—made the difference. With such a big class, this season really has the feeling of ‘now or never,’ knowing that it’s the last dance for many of their players. That sort of mentality was contagious throughout the entire squad.

“My underclassmen have said it since the beginning,” said head coach Jocelyn Lathers. “Stella [Holl], our goalkeeper, over the summer [and at the] end of last season said next year is our year, and that we were doing it for these seniors. There’s 10 of them. I taught a lot of these girls. They’re a huge part of my life, so winning for them, it’s indescribable.”

The Red Hawks’ run to the title was a true underdog story. Entering as the number-five seed, they first took care of #12 Unadilla Valley 2-0 in the first round. They then went on the road and secured back-to-back 1-0 overtime wins over #4 Southern Cayuga and top-seeded Trumansburg. That set the stage for the final, where they grinded out another victory over a state-ranked opponent to make history.

“They know they have to keep battling,” Lathers said. “They don’t give up. There’s a lot of girls out there who refuse to tell me when they’re tired, because they want to stay on the field. They want to persevere. They want to push through… It just makes me really proud that I’m coaching this team.”

One of Groton’s biggest keys to success has been their back line. The Red Hawks have only conceded six goals all season and enter the state tournament on an eight-game winning streak, all of which were shutouts.

“My defense never fails to amaze me,” said senior captain Devyn Blasz. “There are so many opportunities where they can score, and they just lock down. We’re honestly blessed to have this back line.”

The Red Hawks will gear up for regionals against Section 1’s Tuckahoe on November 8 in Chenango Valley.

Little Red heads back to states

Ithaca girls soccer is also states-bound after winning another sectional title. The Little Red faced Corning in the Section IV Class AAA championship on October 30 in Waverly. After 80 minutes of regulation and two 15-minute overtime periods, no goals were scored, meaning Ithaca and Corning were declared co-champions.

However, only one team would advance to states, and a penalty kick shootout would decide the winner. The Little Red made all five of their spot kicks, with Rumi Blizzard, Eliza DeRito, Izzy Makosch, Aicha Cisse, and Tessa Makosch converting. The Hawks made all but one, with the lone miss ringing off the cross bar.

Like Groton, Ithaca’s greatest strength has been their defense. The Little Red have only allowed nine goals and have kept eight shutouts with a largely-inexperienced back line. After losing senior Mae Johnson midseason due to an injury, newcomers Alex Blaine, Sadie Hajjar and Elsa Weatherspoon and senior utility player Iris Johnson all stepped up alongside first-year goalkeeper Skye Lee-Byrnes.

“Losing Mae is absolutely something we didn’t want, but at the same time, we have to adapt and adjust,” said head coach DJ Roberts. “ I feel like the players that we put in those positions have just been phenomenal.”

The Little Red will head back to Waverly for regionals on November 8 against Section XI’s Commack.

Little Red runner-up

Shortly after Ithaca girls soccer’s triumph, the boys team battled Elmira for the Section IV Class AAA title. After a tightly-contested opening 35 minutes, the Express earned a penalty kick. While senior captain and goalkeeper James Reiter made a stunning save, Elmira turned in the rebound to put them in front late in the first half. The Express tacked on two more goals after the break to prevail 3-0 and repeat as champions.

“[The] game was tough for sure,” Reiter said. “It was a battle all the way until the end, and I’m extremely proud of my boys for not giving up. After the game, it was emotional for all the seniors because it was a great season, and no one wanted it to end that way.”

“This season exceeded my expectations,” Reiter continued. “After every game and practice, I saw my guys grow not just as players but also as a family, and I’m really proud of that. I’m also proud of how I played this year despite the losses, and I wouldn’t have wanted to share this experience with anyone else.”

The Little Red ends the season with a 9-4 record.