Boys, Girls Soccer Sweep Games, Heading to Class C Semifinals
By WRILEY NELSON
COOPERSTOWN
Cooperstown boys and girls soccer each won their first two Section III Class C playoff games. The four-seeded boys shut out number 13 Thousand Islands 5-0 at home on Wednesday, October 18. Senior Frank Panzarella made a goal and an assist. Senior Eero Aho and junior Cooper Bradley scored. Charlie Lambert and the rest of the Cooperstown defense made their ninth shutout of the season.
The Hawkeyes advanced to the playoff quarterfinals against five-seeded Waterville, also at home on Paul Lambert Field, on Friday, October 20. Cooperstown rallied from a one goal deficit late in the game to win 3-1. Waterville scored on a penalty kick with 15 minutes left in the second half before Cooperstown junior Janak Pandit tied the game five minutes later. Bradley gave the Hawkeyes the lead, heading a pass by sophomore Miles Nelen. Panzarella scored the insurance goal with five minutes remaining. Lambert made six saves and the Hawkeyes outshot the Eagles 28-11. Cooperstown will face eight-seeded Fabius-Pompey at Liverpool High School on Thursday, October 26.
On the girls’ side, the two-seeded Hawkeyes rallied from a deficit at the half to defeat number 18 Sandy Creek 2-1 at home on Thursday, October 19. Sophomore Mia Pelcer tied up the game in the second half on an assist by senior Sophia Hotaling, who went on to net the winning goal with eight minutes left to play. Junior Brenna Seamon made four saves for Cooperstown, which outshot the Eagles 38-5.
The Hawkeyes faced 10-seeded Dolgeville in the quarterfinals on Saturday, October 21. The match remained scoreless until the final 11 minutes, when junior Annelise Jensen scored on an assist by Pelcer. Hotaling rounded out the 2-0 victory with an unassisted goal with three minutes to play. Seamon made six more saves in the shutout. Cooperstown will face six-seeded Beaver River in a semifinal match on Wednesday, October 25.