Lady Generals earn berth in Region III-B finals

Herkimer, NY – The Lady Generals played a strong game and defeated the Alfred State Pioneers 2-1 on Tuesday afternoon. The win puts Herkimer in the Region III-B finals on Saturday.

The Generals’ victory also avenged a 2-0 loss to Alfred State on Oct. 8. That was one of only four losses the team has suffered this season. Herkimer’s stellar season record is now 11-4-2.

Photo: Jessica Dutka scores Herkimer’s second goal

The day was cloudy and a cold 50 degrees at game time. HCCC attacked the north goal. The hosts made their presence felt quickly.

Freshman Melissa Stec (Pleasant Valley, NY) is the team’s leading scorer, and she continued her sharp shooting today. Jessica Dutka (Highland, NY) attacked from the right wing in the seventh minute. Dutka crossed to Stec, and Stec stroked the ball into the net from 15 yards out.

Photo:  Melissa Stec goes one-on-one with a Pioneer

Dutka, who was a mighty presence at midfield and on the attack all day, put the team up 2-0 a few minutes later. Stec worked a good play with freshman Franci Robinson (Northville, NY). Stec shot, the shot rebounded off the goaltender, and Dutka fired it home.

Alfred State then began to attack more often. Herkimer’s defense, however, was more than up to the task. Generals’ goalkeeper Michelle Cuomo (Rotterdam, NY) played another outstanding game, as did the defenders in front of her. In all, the Pioneers outshot Herkimer 11-8, but Cuomo & Company almost held them scoreless.

Herkimer almost took a three-goal lead with just over 14 minutes to play in the first half.  Again it was Dutka with a powerful shot that looked to be going in, but instead hit the bottom half of the crossbar and stayed out.

Melissa Stec had another strong game.  She’s among the region’s best at working her way through or around defenders.

Cuomo had to make at least two big saves late in the half.  She did so, with very good positioning and steady shot stopping.

The Generals held a 2-0 lead at the break, but the second half would be a different story.  The wind picked up and became quite harsh.  Herkimer had to attack into that strong crossing wind.

Alfred State intensified their offense.  The Pioneers had a slight advantage in both possession and shots on goal in the second stanza.

The Pioneers had a breakaway strike 14 minutes into the half.  The Generals’ rugged freshman fullback Sky Timmons (Fort Covington, NY) broke up that play with a sliding tackle.

Six minutes later Herkimer made a strong strike.  Senior Mary Spanfelner (Herkimer, NY) worked the ball in close and made a good cross to teammate Brenna Whitney (Lake Placid, NY), but Whitney’s shot went high.

Photo:  Franci Robinson takes the ball upfield; Jaylene Stowell backs her up

Later, goalkeeper Cuomo had to make a double save.  She stopped a shot that rebounded, allowing a second Pioneer shot from just four yards out, but Cuomo stopped that one too.

The tense game became more so in the final minutes. With just 1:29 to play, the Pioneers made a long cross from the far right wing and freshman Kathryn Noyes deflected it in from point blank range, narrowing the score to 2-1. But the Generals hung tough and closed out the contest without allowing another goal.

Now the Lady Generals will play for the Region III-B championship at 1:30 on Saturday in Herkimer’s Wehrum Stadium. They will host the winner of the #2 Jamestown CC-Cattaraugus vs. #7 Onondaga CC semifinal game.

Statistics:

Halftime score: Herkimer 2-0

Scoring:

Herkimer: Jessica Dutka 1-1, Melissa Stec 1-0, Francesca Robinson 0-1

Alfred: Katie Noyes 1-0, Maura Tuffey 0-1 

Goalkeeping:

Herkimer: Michelle Cuomo - 90 minutes, 10 saves, 1 goal against

Alfred State: Simone DeLaney - 90 minutes, 2 goals against, 6 saves

Photo:  Goalkeeper Michelle Cuomo is in good position as left back Allison Kaye clears the ball

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