Saints Bring Home 18th State Title in a Barn Burner
Game 19: (17-0-2)
28 May 2022 vs. Mill Valley in the State Finals at Stryker Park (2-1)
Picture This: They Did
In one heck of a State Final, our Saints trailed 1-0 with a bit more than 20 minutes to go. And then Sydney Watts scored her most important goal of her record-setting 36 goals on a great baseline pass from senior Abby Hansen.
Then with 4:13 to go, Sydney Watts really scored her most important goal of her record-setting 37 goals on, yet another, baseline pass from assist-leader Anisten Cabantac! (Check out Erin Grimsley reaching out to Sydney)
Mill Valley spent the match doubling Sydney when she was receiving the ball, and that tactic had proven pretty effective, but when we brought the ball into the box to pass those crisp low crosses when Sydney's first touch was in a goal-scoring position, that defense did not work. Both assist-making passes were quick releases, and Sydney's two key shots, one touches.
Mill Valley scored its lone goal less than a minute into the second half on a nice dribble-and-shoot by their "9," Lockhart. Payne almost saved it as she dove right to touch it wide, but not quite wide enough. It was a tremendous effort.
A couple of, perhaps, unsung heroes of the match were first, Mia Sandvig. Andie Rylance was just having a fantastic match when she got hammered as she was about to take a shot from the top of the box. The play drew a yellow card, but Andie was out for the rest of the match. Mia came in, and play did not drop off at that "6" spot—that was so important.
And then second, star-on-the-rise, Sophie Spinello, got her feet wet a bit in the first half before she came in at left back to play most of the second half. She was brilliant, allowing nothing down that right sideline, and continually putting the ball to the feet of her teammates.
This was a wonderful season for the girls: 1) the first undefeated season in 34 years of Saint Thomas Aquinas soccer 2) the team gave up only 9 goals all year 3) both Payne and Ellner posted .444 goals against—5th best ever 4) Sydney Watt's 37 goals becomes a new school record erasing the 1995 record of Erin Grimsley of 35 5)Sydney Watts also scored 7 goals in a match besting the record of 4 in a match by 8 different players 6) Sydney also broke Erin's 83 points in a season with her total of 87 7) 11 shutouts in a season is 5th best all time 8) And finally, Sydney's 14 points in a single game bests Katie Powers, Erin Grimsley and Jamie Kutey's record of 9.
Hats off: to our seniors: Ella, Mia, Avery, Shandon, Maria, Maddy, Abby, Assa, and Leah. Great play and great leadership.
. . . to our coaching staff of Head Coach Adam Lamb (2 years, 2 State Titles), and assistants Chuck Hammons (the most inspirational man I know), Jessica Teahan-Brown(Goalies), Will Ragsdale (JV), and Jeff Sparks (C-team).
And this team needed all of the amazing parent contributions to this season to make it as successful as it was! Such a positive and productive group.
STATS:
First Half:
Saints: Shots: 6 (4) Corners: 2 (C. Holton, A. Hansen)
Jags: Shots: 4 (2) Corners: 1
Second Half:
Saints: Shots: 6 (4) Corners: 2 (Marn, Watts)
21:57 Watts (A. Hansen cuts it, boxes it on a low line drive for one sweet, full volley)
4:13 Watts (Watts' one touch from O'Keefe gets through for a Cabantac touch and a quick t-ball through a Marn front-post run )
Jags: Shots: 5 (3) Corners: 1
Lockhart 38:19 (the long chip is headed down before Lockhart touches it by one defender, cuts another before rifling it far post)
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