Four-goal second half sends Beekmantown to first final four

NISKAYUNA | Beekmantown made program history Nov. 7, breaking open a scoreless match with four second-half goals to defeat Section 2's Averill Park 4-0 in a NYSPHSAA Class A girls soccer regional at Niskayuna High School. The 18th-ranked Eagles improved to 14-3-2 and advanced to the state semifinals for the first time in program history. Beekmantown will face No. 3 Pittsford Sutherland of Section V at noon Saturday, Nov. 14, at Cortland High School. After neither team scored in the opening 40 minutes, Beekmantown needed less than five minutes after halftime to take control. Reese Peryer served a corner kick into the box, where Carly Hagadorn headed it home 4:51 into the second half for a 1-0 lead. Peryer doubled the advantage just 2:03 later, scoring off an assist from Olivia Hagadorn. The Eagles continued to pull away when Ele Fullum scored off an Allie Owen assist at 13:18. Lucy Conroy completed the scoring with an unassisted goal at 25:28. Beekmantown finished with a 20-4 advantage in shots on goal. Addy Svendsen made four saves for the shutout, while the Averill Park goalkeeper stopped 16 shots. For Peryer, reaching the first state semifinal in program history reflected everything the Eagles had invested in the season. "This win means more than words can explain," Peryer said. "It's the result of every early morning practice, every challenge we've faced and every moment that we've stood by each other. "It's proof that when we believe in each other and fight for the same goal, we can accomplish something special." Beekmantown head coach Jon Chapman said the Eagles deliberately constructed a difficult non-league schedule with the postseason in mind. "This win shows that Beekmantown is one of the best in New York state," Chapman said. "When building our schedule, I wanted to use our six non-league games to challenge these girls. They wanted to be challenged and pushed to their limits. "We scrimmaged at Shenendehowa, which is currently No. 1 in Class AAA, then added games against ranked Class AA schools and added Marcellus, which is Class B and won states the last two years. This schedule put ties and some losses on our record, but the goal was long-term, season-long. "It made us tough. It increased our pace of play. It helped prove to ourselves that we could play with anyone." That schedule included opponents from larger classifications, preparation that paid off against an Averill Park team that spent its regular season in the Suburban Council. The 16th-ranked Golden Knights were the only Class A program in a league that also includes six Class AAA schools and five Class AA schools. Beekmantown's scoring depth also proved decisive Saturday, with four different Eagles finding the net. "It just shows how strong we are as a team and how many girls are capable of stepping up to score," Rhianna Gilligan said. "We don't just rely on one or two players. We have many players who can make an impact. "That's what makes us so dangerous and difficult for other teams to defend." The Eagles created opportunities during the scoreless first half before finding their finishing touch after the break. "We came out much more composed after that first half," Gilligan said. "We knew we could win. We just needed to start finishing our chances. We were creating plenty of opportunities. "In the second half, we settled down, trusted each other and really started playing our game. We moved the ball better, communicated more and played with confidence. "When we get into this rhythm, we are a very difficult team to stop." Olivia Hagadorn said Beekmantown's effort throughout the field helped turn those chances into goals. "We all knew we had to come out hard as a team and make hustle plays," Hagadorn said. "This led to our goals in the second half and diversity of scorers. "Our defense and keeper did a great job and allowed us to keep momentum in the game." Olivia Miller said the Eagles remained calm despite facing the possibility of their season ending. "We knew this could have been our last game, but we were confident that we are a good team, so we needed to just stay calm and play our game," Miller said. "Once we got our first goal in the second half, it gave us momentum and confidence to put more balls in the back of the net." Chapman said the Eagles' depth and conditioning have become two of their greatest strengths. "This team is a tough matchup for any opponent," Chapman said. "If you mark out any one of our main goal scorers, we have so many others that can step up. We also have subs that give us a boost when they come in. "Ele's goal and Allie's assist are evidence of this today. This was the biggest game of their lives. They just wanted to come in, work hard and have an impact. "As a team, our fitness is also a huge strength. As other teams fade, we still have gas in the tank far into the second half. We get stronger as the game goes on. We're a tough matchup for anyone. "These girls have made Beekmantown proud, and this is the farthest that any BCS girls team has gone. And they are hungry for more." Averill Park finished its season 7-10-3. The Golden Knights entered the Section 2 Class A tournament as the No. 2 seed in the nine-team field. Beekmantown now turns its attention to Pittsford Sutherland, which has been dominant throughout the postseason. The Knights were the top seed in the nine-team Section V Class A tournament and defeated Our Lady of Mercy 6-0, Batavia 3-0 and Honeoye Falls-Lima 1-0 to capture their first sectional championship since 1994. Pittsford Sutherland then defeated Section VI's Starpoint 2-1 in the NYSPHSAA sub-regional round before shutting out Section IV's Maine-Endwell 5-0 in the regional to reach the state semifinals.

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Four-goal second half sends Beekmantown to first final four

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