×

Trojans Fall To Haverling 4-0 In Class B Far West Regional

WEBSTER — Keegan Smith.

Remember that name.

Derek Houser certainly won’t forget it.

“Definitely, she’s the best player we’ve seen this year and she’s one of the top players I can ever remember in 15 years,” the Southwestern girls soccer coach said of the Haverling senior. “You’ve got size, you’ve got touch, you’ve got vision, you’ve got power. She’s really a complete player.”

Smith, a midfielder/forward, scored three goals and added the assist on the other tally to send the Section V Rams to a 4-0 victory over the Trojans in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class B Far West Regional on Saturday night at Webster-Schroeder High School.

The win vaults Haverling (19-1-0) into the state semifinals this Saturday at Cortland High School against Marcellus of Section III. Southwestern, meanwhile, ends its season 16-4-1.

Smith, who has committed to the University of Arkansas where she will play goalie, found the back of the net twice in the first half to give the Rams a 2-0 lead. After intermission, she made a long pass to senior Ella Yartym, who made it 3-0 at the 28:50 mark, and then Smith closed out the scoring 23 minutes later when she sailed a shot high into the net from about 25 yards out.

The hat trick prompted her to raise her arms in celebration as the Haverling fans in the stands cheered their approval, capping a game in which the school from Bath dominated time of possession.

The Trojans had a few scoring opportunities after intermission — Heidi Swan-Leuze and Avery Johnson, in particular — but they were denied by Haverling keeper Lola Coots each time.

The Rams, who advanced to the regional by virtue of a 2-0 win over Mynderse for their fourth straight Section V Class B title, ended Southwestern’s streak of consecutive shutouts at four.

“I think we played a lot harder than (the) 4-0 (score) may indicate,” Houser said. “I’m proud of everything they’ve done. This has just been special. I haven’t been able to sit back and really enjoy it, but I certainly will, for sure.”

Houser will lose five seniors to graduation — Swan-Leuze, Avery Casselman, Sophia Segrue, Abbey Galati and Joslyn Brown — but he’ll have plenty of returnees next season.

“We’ve got a good core coming back,” he said. “Those seniors played a really big part this year. Their poise and commitment really set the stage for some of the younger players. That’s not something that’s easily written off, but we’ve got some talented players that are going to be hungry. Now you’re the standard and everyone is going to be coming for us. … We’ll enjoy this and then we look to build. We want to be right back here and try and take that next step next year.”

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today