Hoosac girls fall just short of crown, while Lee needs help

The Hurricanes seem to have fate on their side as Sandy headed for The Berkshires, but Blair Maher’s team couldn’t get by Mount Greylock last Saturday for the Berkshire County crown, losing 2-1.

Lauren Finnegan’s Lee team tied a tough Wahconah squad, 1-1, for an important point in the standings, but were left a point shy to qualify for the post-season after their final game against Drury was canceled due to the hurricane.

Lee and Hoosac did square off last Friday, with the Hurricanes coming away with the 4-1 win, despite Lee dominating the first half with some of their best soccer of the season.

“The score didn’t reflect the game,” said Finnegan. “It was a really good match.”

The Wildcats showed great spacing and ball movement through the mid-field against the 11-4 Hurricanes, but were plagued by a shot that ricocheted off a Lee defender into their own net with 2:58 left in the first half for the 1-0 Hoosac lead.

“That first goal just inflated us and deflated Lee, and for us, it was like throwing chum in the water, when we get one or two the girls get into this feeding frenzy,” Maher said. “They all wanted in and they responded.”

Hoosac added a second goal before the end of the first half, as Megan Rodowicz scored off a pass from Danielle Beauchmin that sent the Hurricanes flying with the 2-0 lead.

“First half, I thought we played really well, the own goal was unfortunate,” Finnegan said. “It was interesting because I wanted to see how they would respond to an own goal and they really pulled it together.”

For the Lee girls, it was senior day for a group that has worked extremely hard to try to get that last tournament spot.

“I think it was a special day for the girls despite the loss,” Finnegan said. “It was emotional for them – it’s tough to have senior day before a big game.”

With the tie against Wahconah, Lee needed a tie against a struggling Drury team in order to make the post-season. However, with the cancellation of Tuesday’s game, the Wildcats will have to petition the MIAA for an exemption into the tournament.

After second-half goals by Hoosac’s Rodowicz and Marissa Felter put the Hurricanes up 4-0, Lee fought back with a Megan Gaul goal from Victoria Murphy to close the gap to 4-1 with 9:44 left.

“Lee came to play today; they were physical and they wanted to win,” Maher said.

Hoosac, who plays mainly underclassmen, thrived under the tutelage of Maher and his teach-first approach to the game.

“We have a great spirited core and great morale,” Maher said. “The girls buy into the sisterhood and spirited core.”

Meanwhile, Lee says goodbye to seniors Hadley Cook, Eileen Dooley, Stephany Young and Megan Gaul.

“The seniors don’t want this to end,” said Finnegan. “They want [the post-season], and I know we are going to get it. We got a flow and a rhythm going – they trust each other – that’s where we are at.”

Posted by Tim Davis on November 1, 2012. Filed under High School Sports,Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry