1 week Ago By Ben Birnell | Sports writer | [email protected]
CORTLAND — The New Hartford girls soccer team will play for a state title for the third time in four years. The Spartans turned in a nail-biting thriller to take down reigning state Class A champion Rye on Saturday afternoon in a New York State Public High School Athletic Association semifinal contest featuring two of the top-ranked teams in the state. Elizabeth Rayhill and Sophia Vitullo knocked in goals less than three minutes apart in the second half as the Spartans rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Garnets on a cool and windy afternoon at Cortland High School's turf field.
Rye is ranked No. 1 in the most recent state poll by the New York State Sportswriters Association. New Hartford was No.
3. Vitullo, a senior captain who signed her letter of intent to play Division I soccer at Siena on Wednesday, was almost at a loss for words after Saturday's astonishing result. This is Vitullo's fourth year on New Hartford's varsity squad, which has had churned out much success in recent years including winning a state title in 2021.
"I don't even know what to say," said Vitullo, whose cousin, Olivia, is also a New Hartford captain. "To be back (in the final) my senior year, is just very nostalgic. Hopefully, we can bring it home.
" New Hartford also played for the state title in 2022 before falling short in these same semis last year. After the final buzzer sounded Saturday, coach Frank DuRoss Jr. showed a few dance moves in celebrating with players on the field.
"I'm so proud of these girls for battling back," DuRoss said. "Rye is a very strong team. They're big, physical, fast and we got things together in the second half.
We did a great job defending and took opportunities when they came. I have to credit a lot to our defense (Saturday) as well. (Rye) had a lot of corners.
They're really tall. Our keeper, Evie (Ruggiero) did a great job." He credited the defense — New Hartford plays with five defenders in a 5-3-2 formation — for helping get the Spartans out of a lot of "dangerous situations" against Rye.
Ruggiero finished with 11 saves, including a handful late in the game to help preserve the result. New Hartford found better footing in Saturday's contest with about 25 minutes to go in the second half after Section I's Rye — a downstate town located about eight miles east of Scarsdale — controlled much of the game. Rye's quickness and physical style allowed the Garnets to get the lead with 2:21 remaining in the first half following a corner and a scramble.
It appeared that Ruggiero was interfered with by a Rye player as the keeper sprawled out to try to make a stop in the crowd of players. The official had discussion with New Hartford players, though the goal didn't seem in doubt at any point of being disallowed. "They came out really strong.
They won a lot of the 50-50 balls," Rayhill said. "We just had to play our game. That's how we came out in the second half.
Didn't want to play their game anymore." Sophia Vitullo's go-ahead goal happened with about 14 minutes to play. Vitullo went to the net and Caroline Sekula put "the best possible feed" she could.
Vitullo said she was hoping to one-touch the ball in, but the ball got caught in her feet. She managed kick in the ball for the midfielder's career-best 13th goal of the season. What's that feeling like seeing the go-ahead goal go in? "It is something that can never be replicated," said Vitullo, who was mobbed by teammates in celebration.
"It was amazing." The goal came shortly after Rayhill — a sophomore and the younger sister of former New Hartford soccer standouts, Erin and Anna — tried something else entirely while standing near the touch line about 15 yards out on the left side of the field. "It was supposed to be a cross," Rayhill said with a smile.
"It ended up being a goal." New Hartford advances to play Pittsford-Mendon for the state title at 10 a.m.
Sunday at SUNY Cortland's White Field. PHOTOS: New Hartford girls soccer earns spot in state Class A final Frank DuRoss Jr. dances after the New Hartford Spartans claimed a state Class A semifinal win on Saturday at Cortland High School.
The team won 2-1 with two second-half goals to dethrone defending champ Rye in the game. Coach Frank DuRoss Jr. dances after the New Hartford Spartans claimed a state Class A semifinal win on Saturday at Cortland High School.
Frank DuRoss Jr. dances after the New Hartford Spartans claimed a state Class A semifinal win on Saturday at Cortland High School. New Hartford's Marisol Gadziala celebrates after the team secured a 2-1 win in the state Class A semifinals over Rye on Saturday at Cortland High School.
Marisol Gadziala (10) and Evie Ruggiero (00) celebrate with New Hartford girls soccer teammates after the Spartans rallied to win the state Class A semifinal 2-1 over Rye on Saturday at Cortland High School. New Hartford's Bria Nackley and Marisol Gadziala celebrate the team's state Class A semifinals win on Saturday afternoon at Cortland High School. The New Hartford girls soccer team celebrates after winning the state Class A semifinals on Saturday, Nov.
16, 2024 at Cortland High School. New Hartford scored twice in the second half to top defending champ Rye 2-1 to earn a spot in the state finals on Sunday morning. New Hartford fans celebrate the team's state Class A semifinal win Saturday at Cortland High School.
The New Hartford girls soccer team celebrates the tying goal scored by Elizabeth Rayhill in the state Class A semifinal against Rye on Saturday at Cortland High School. The New Hartford girls soccer team celebrates a second-half goal against Rye on Saturday in the state Class A semifinals at Cortland High School. The game's official explains a call to New Hartford co-captain Olivia Vitullo in the state Class A semifinal vs.
Rye on Saturday at Cortland High School. New Hartford's Sophia Vitullo, left, celebrates her go-ahead goal in the second half of Saturday's state Class A semifinal with Caroline Sekula at Cortland High School. Sekula sent a cross to Vitullo who tapped in the ball from close range for the goal with about 14 minutes remaining in the game.
Rye's Clare Nemsick (23) tries to head in a ball late in the second half against New Hartford in the state Class A semifinals on Saturday at Cortland High School. The ball sailed wide. Elizabeth Rayhill (7) battles for a ball against Rye on Saturday in the state Class A semifinals at Cortland High School.
Rayhill had the game-tying goal in the game. New Hartford goalie Evie Ruggiero leaps for one her 11 saves Saturday in the state Class A semifinal against Rye at Cortland High School..
