Girls soccer: Schalmont storms to Class B title

What better way for the Schalmont girls soccer team to end its 2011 season than to win its first state title? Megan Strijek recorded her second conseuctive hat trick to lead the Sabres (23-0-0) past Section V's Greece Odyssey 4-0 in Sunday's Class B state final at Tompkins-Cortland Community College. "It was a complete[ly] perfect season," said Strijek, who was named the tournament's most outstanding player. "We had a really great weekend up at Cortland," said Schalmont coach Angelo Caschera. "The girls played well starting with my [goal]keeper all the way to my forwards." Schalmont's run in the state tournament echoed its run to the Colonial Council and Section II titles. The Sabres scored goals in bunches, while the defense and goaltender Karley Murray kept the slate clean at the other end. "It was definitely my defense," said Murray, a senior who joined the team this year having never played soccer before. "Without my defense, I would have definitely been out of luck." "We have a lot of communication where we tell each other where we have to be on the field," added defender Isabella Borini. Defending state champion Bronxville (Section I) tested Schalmont's defense in Saturday's state semifinal game, putting several shots on goal in the first 20 minutes of the first half. But, Murray stopped all of the shots to keep the game scoreless until Diana DiCocco put the Sabres ahead late in the opening half. "She did a super job. She made some nice saves for us," said Caschera. DiCocco's goal opened the flood gates for Schalmont against Bronxville. Strijek made the score 2-0 early in the second half off a feed from Rachael Gac and then tallied two more times to give the Sabres a 4-0 victory. "Once we score our first goal, they just keep coming," said Murray. The momentum from Saturday's semifinal victory carried over into Sunday's final against Greece Odyssey. Schalmont got its first goal in the opening 40 minutes and pulled away with three more goals in the second half to clinch the championship. Strijek -- who finished her senior season with a team-high 47 goals -- said she didn't expect to record back-to-back hat tricks at states. "I definitely worked hard there, and I guess it showed," said Strijek, who concluded her varsity career with 106 goals. "It definitely wasn't just her," said Caschera. "Rachael Gac, Alexsandria Cardinal, Hannah Saccocio, Jenna Saccocio, Katie Saccocio, Diana DiCocco, Madelin Saccocio, who had a nice goal [in the finals] ... all of those girls played awesome. And when I went to my bench, my subs played great." Schalmont finished the season outscoring its opponents 123-7 and posting 17 shutouts. "This is the only team I've coached here that's scored that many goals and allowed so few," said Caschera. It will be a tall order for Schalmont to repeat the season it had when 2012 rolls around. The Sabres lose eight seniors to graduation including Strijek, Murray and cousins Hannah, Jenna and Katie Saccocio. But, Caschera sees promise in a junior class that includes Gac, Cardinal and DiCocco. "Next year it's going to be a young team, but there will be eight juniors who will be seniors next year that will want to win [a state title] again," said Caschera. For now, the Sabres can bask in the glow from their first state championship trophy. "23-0 and state champs. It's definitely a perfect season," said Strijek.

Signup for our newsletter

Girls soccer: Schalmont storms to Class B title

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS