GLOVERSVILLE — A quick start proved to be the difference for the Gloversville girls soccer team Saturday against Johnstown.
The Lady Dragons scored twice in the first six minutes on their way to a 4-1 victory over the Lady Bills in a Foothills Council South Division contest at Gloversville High School.
“We’ve been talking about getting out to quicker starts,” Gloversville coach Mike Hallenbeck said. “We came out fast tonight and it was great stuff.”
Taylor Mee scored twice for Gloversville, while Lizzie Campione and Tenecia Beckford also scored. Michaela Ponticello, Melia Stoller and Katie Callen all had assists for the Lady Dragons, who notched their fourth straight victory.
Madison Delgado scored the lone goal for Johnstown on an assist from Abbygail Vandewalker
“Gloversville just played well tonight under the lights,” Johnstown coach Erica Fitzpatrick said..
Gloversville struck first when Johnstown keeper Hope Buboltz wasn’t hable to hang on to a cross from the Lady Dragons’ Ponticello, allowing Campione to pounce on the loose ball to score just 2:03 into the game.
Beckford, who had just come on as a sub, scored Gloversville’s second goal, putting home a corner kick from Stoller to make it 2-0 with 34:39 left in the first half.
The Lady Dragons continued to control the action for the first part of the first half, using crisp passing to generate a 9-3 advantage in first-half shots.
“We play our best when we possess the ball,” Hallenbeck said.
Johnstown pulled to within a goal when Delgado scored on an assist from Vandewalker with 18:38 remaining in the opening half.
“Johnstown didn’t quit. They played hard the whole game,” Hallenbeck said. “The battled, we battled. It was the usual Gloversville-Johnstown game.”
Gloversville keeper Katie Hastings was injured on the play, and Hallenbeck brought in Meredith Dennie to replace her.
“Meredith [Dennie] came in and did a great job in goal for us after Katie [Hastings] got hurt,” he said. “She came through big time for us tonight.”
With five minutes left in the first half, the Lady Dragons pushed their lead back to two goals when Mee scored to make it 3-1.
After the break, Johnstown stepped up its efforts on the offensive end, outshooting Gloversville by an 11-7 margin in the second half.
Despite that advantage, it was the Lady Dragons that were able to score the lone second-half goal.
Mee netted her second goal of the game on an assist from Callen to add an insurance goal with 17:10 to play.
From there, Dennie and Gloversville defenders Maddie Hickok, Sydney Loux, Alecea Jones, Reagan Johnson and Brooke Dutcher kept the Lady Bills off the board, making the final score 4-1.
“It is what it is,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’re just so young. We’re young and building.”
Dennie made seven saves for the Lady Dragons, while Hastings had two stops.
Buboltz made nine saves for Johnstown, which was outshot by a 16-14 margin.
“I’m so proud of my girls,” Hallenbeck said. “They played well tonight.”
Gloversville (5-1 overall, 3-0 Foothills) is scheduled to travel to Scotia-Glenville on Wednesday for a 4:30 p.m. contest.
Johnstown (0-4-2 overall, 0-4-0 Foothills) is slated to host Broadalbin-Perth on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Scotia-Glenville 3, Amsterdam 1
AMSTERDAM — Lucy Crounse finished with a goal and an assist to lead Scotia-Glenville to a Foothills Council South Division victory over Amsterdam on Saturday at Lynch Literacy Academy.
Morgan Nichter and Annamarie Piccirillo also scored for the Tartans, while Brooklyn Drago and Rylee O’Connor each had an assist.
Lydia Iorio scored the lone goal for Amsterdam.
Camryn Verdi made two saves for Scotia-Glenville, while Karen Troche-Esteva made 20 stops for Amsterdam.
Queensbury 5, Schuylerville 0
SCHUYLERVILLE — Christina Cummings finished with four goals to lead Queensbury to a Foothills Council North Division victory over Schuylerville on Saturday.
Sophia Keshmiri also scored for the Spartans, while Izzy Dennison had two assists. Brigid Duffy added an assist for Queensbury (5-1 overall, 4-0 Foothills).
Kaleigh Hunt made three saves to post her third shutout of the season for the Spartans.
Claire Pelletier-Hoblock and Rachel Stortz combined to make seven saves for Schuylerville (0-3 overall, 0-2 Foothills).
