Bolton-Wbg. girls win second straight Adk. League title

WILTON | Surviving a defensive battle Oct. 14, the Bolton-Warrensburg Girls Soccer team won their second consecutive 2023 Adirondack League Championship by defeating Hadley-Luzerne 1-0 in Wilton's Gavin Park. The game's sole goal, scored about four minutes left in the first half, was a B-W team effort. Seconds beforehand, senior Ila Hubert dribbled the ball from midfield into the penalty box where players from both teams knocked it around, then junior Elli York attempted a shot that was deflected back into the pack of athletes, and sophomore Hailey Goodspeed got her toe on the ball and pushed it into the goal, B-W coach Scott Smith said. York was credited with the assist. The B-W defense had a key role in Bolton-Warrensburg's victory. Sophomore Maille Kelley was tenacious on defense, shutting down scoring efforts by Hadley-Luzerne's offensive standout Carolina Lott-Diamond. Also, Hubert was effective in the midfield, keeping the ball within striking distance of the Eagles' goal. "Ila was chasing Carolina all over the field," Smith said, adding that Hubert is skilled at winning ball possession skirmishes. Smith added that junior Zailey Baker, sophomore Caitlin O'Donnell, and freshman Hannah Daken were strong on defense, limiting Hadley-Luzerne's opportunities for shots-on-goal and maintaining B-W's one-point lead for the 44 remaining minutes. Senior goaltender Hope Sherman finished with four saves and was credited with her 13th shutout of the season. "Hope did a great job communicating to the defense, making sure all opponents were 'marked up,'" Smith said. Smith's praise for his defense was appropriate, considering that over Bolton-Warrensburg's past 14 games, their win-loss-tie record is 13-0-1 and during those games, B-W athletes scored 57 goals while only allowing one goal to be scored. Sherman made four saves over the title game while Hadley-Luzerne goalie Madison Lent accomplished seven. As of Oct. 15, Section II tournament soccer matchups and schedules were to be finalized and announced the following day. Smith said his team would likely be playing their first Sectional playoff game on Friday, Oct. 20 at home. Smith said that Sectionals were likely to be very competitive, as Waterford-Halfmoon, ranked No. 2 in the state for Class C, is a defending state champion and is currently ranked No. 2 in the state, and Stillwater is ranked No. 6, OESJ Central is ranked No. 13, and Chatham is No. 17 on the list. Smith reflected on how pleased he was to have the opportunity to coach the 2023 players. "I treasure the time spent with them," he said. "I am very fortunate to have such a great group of student-athletes to coach."

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Bolton-Wbg. girls win second straight Adk. League title

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