By SPENCER BATES
batesoleanstar@gmail.com
SALAMANCA — For over an hour of game time, it seemed as though there was no way through for the New York Girls Gold Team.
Its repeated barrages on the Pennsylvania goal all came up empty. A matter made worse by the fact that an early goal from Brockway’s Ana Hughes meant NY needed to come up with an answer if they were going to defend their Corporate Cup title.
New York’s frustrations compounded as the question of when a goal would come, started to evolve into a question of if one would come, as Pennsylvania’s goalkeeping duo continued to make one miraculous save after another.
But good things come to those who wait, and in the final half hour goals came in rapid succession for NY, which picked up a 5-2 victory.
“I told them at halftime, ‘it’s frustrating because we’re thinking, like, God, what do we have to do? We’re on the doorstep. We’re hitting the crossbar,’” New York head coach Mike Matz said. “Pennsylvania played amazing and you’re thinking, ‘God, are we ever gonna score? And I said, ‘guys, I promise you, you get one and the floodgates are gonna open.”
A promise that rang true as, following the game-tying goal from Allegany-Limestone’s Kennedy Honeck in the 64th minute, New York’s squad scored three times in ensuing six minutes.
The Empire State saw their first lead less than a minute later as Allegany-Limestone’s Madison Honeck, sister of Kennedy, found the top right corner with an exquisite curling effort that earned her New York’s team MVP. But the goal came with an even deeper level of meaning as the game itself marked Madison’s return to the field following an injury that derailed her senior season with the Gators last fall.
“What an opportunity. To come back from a really bad injury … and then to come out here and see her and Kennedy perform like that, that is why we do this kind of stuff,” Matz said. “For those guys, I mean, they’re great kids. They got a great family and I’m super happy for them.”
Allegany-Limestone’s Madison Honeck (12) celebrates with her team after giving New York its first lead of the game. Honeck was named New York’s team MVP. (Spencer Bates)
But New York’s initial lead of the game lasted all of two minutes before Brockway’s Rheanna Spinda took advantage of some miscommunication at the back and slotted home the equalizer for PA.
And still, the rubberbanding of the game was far from done there.
Just two minutes later another Allegany-Limestone player in Kaiana Wojewoda-Ko just about matched Madison Honeck’s effort with a screamer of her own that left the PA goalkeeper with no chance.
Well-taken chances from Randolph’s Gianna Bowles and Pioneer’s Ellie Edwards saw them get in on the fun with a goal apiece in the 81st and 86th minute, respectively.
Now, while the game may look lopsided on paper in favor of New York, not enough can be said about the efforts of Ridgway’s Sara Zameroski and Warren’s Bella Campbell — who combined for 20 saves, earning them co-MVPs for Pennsylvania.
“We knew coming in that we had two stud keepers, so even if we rotate, we weren’t really taking a step backwards with whoever we put in,” Pennsylvania head coach Michael Dawson said. “They actually stood on their heads. I think Bella had four or five saves in one possession and there was a goal line clearance in the mix too. They were making some real saves out there for us.”
Ridgway’s Sara Zameroski (0) punts a ball upfield. Zameroski and Warren’s Bella Campbell were named co-MVPs for Pennsylvania after combining for 20 saves. (Spencer Bates)
Matz, showered in glitter by his team after the game, could not help but smile as he watched his team celebrate. The camaraderie that he looked around and saw was exactly what makes the Corporate Cup special to him.
“That’s the best part,” Matz said. “It’s fun to win and everything, but what’s better is hearing them say to each other, ‘send me your number so we can do this.’ Or, ‘hey, we’re getting together to do this.’ Kids from different schools, different backgrounds, they find out pretty quickly that they’re all kids, and they all have the same, but different, backgrounds. … I told both teams to enjoy this moment because this team and this group of kids will never be a team again. I said, ‘you’ve got about two hours where we are on the field together as a team and then it’s over.’ So I think it’s really important that they understand that it’s special.”
Dawson shares that opinion. He also praised the Corporate Cup for giving local players who may not have as plentiful of resources a platform to show what skills they possess.
“It gives an opportunity for local kids to kind of showcase their skills, because not everybody goes to the college ID camps and stuff like that,” Dawson said. “So if they can find an avenue where maybe they get a look through something like this or anything like that, we love that. And it gives the kids a chance to play with kids they battled against the whole season. So that was fun to watch too.”
Allegany-Limestone’s Leea Kopp (2) fires home for the New York Girls Silver Team. Kopp was named New York’s MVP of the silver match after scoring a hat trick.
In the girls silver match, New York took control from the first whistle and cruised to a 4-0 victory over their Pennsylvania counterparts.
Allegany-Limestone’s Leea Kopp, who paced the Empire State squad with a hat trick, put the scoreboard operator to work after just 10 minutes, slotting home from close range. Salamanca’s Arleigh Chudy picked up the assist on the game’s opening goal after she found herself the beneficiary of some confusion within the PA defensive line. New York’s brace came on the stroke of halftime, courtesy of Salamanca’s Ellouise Brown, who curled an effort across the goalkeeper’s body and into the bottom right corner. Allegany-Limestone’s Logan Potter picked up the assist.
Kopp wasted no time after the intermission, bagging her second of the afternoon in the 46th minute, tapping home from close range once again. Her third and final goal, scored in the 80th minute, was the best of the bunch as she rifled a shot off the underside of the crossbar, leaving PA’s goalkeeper with no chance.
Kopp’s hat trick performance saw her take home the MVP award for New York.
Pennsylvania’s MVP award was earned by Emelia Gow.
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