GOAL! Fairport wins dramatic Section V girls soccer final in double OT

WEBSTER — Fairport's Andrea Wilson couldn't contain herself after scoring the game-winner of Thursday's championship game.

The top-seeded Red Raiders' 1-0 double overtime win over No. 3 Rush-Henrietta in the Section V Class AAA girls soccer final was a grudge match at Webster Schroeder. Wilson nearly fell as she jumped for joy with her teammates after capturing the program's third Section V brick in four seasons.

Rush-Henrietta's freshman goalkeeper Natalie Wood made save after save, impenetrable for 99 minutes. That's when Wilson caught Wood off guard with a long distance shot to win after a two-hour, 10-minute marathon.

"They spent a lot of energy, and we did too," Fairport coach Tom Natalie said. "We were able to keep the pressure up, keep it in their end, and luckily we got a good opportunity before they did."

What it means for Fairport and Rush-Henrietta

Fairport (6-8-2) won the inaugural Class AAA tournament that features three teams. The Red Raiders earned a bye straight into the final, but they flat out earned the brick. Natalie said tough losses to the likes of Penfield, Webster Thomas, Webster Schroeder and Spencerport prepared them for a postseason run.

Rush-Henrietta ended the season 2-17-0. Coach Michael Seidel's Royal Comets suffered their third loss to Fairport. Rush beat Gates Chili on Sept. 15, then lost 11 straight before edging RCSD-United 1-0 in the semifinals. The Class AAA crown was well within their reach.

Play of the game

Wilson's game-winner was as cool as a championship-clinching goal should be.

Fairport's junior midfielder fired a 30-yard shot from the left wing four minutes into the sudden victory double overtime period. Wood almost made another spectacular save. She jumped and got her hands on Wilson's high-arching shot, but the shot was strong enough to slide through the keeper's hands into the net.

Grace Pepper sparked the play. She pushed the ball into midfield and sent a long ball to Savanna Biehler. Wood left the box and beat Biehler to the ball. Wilson gained control downfield and sent a deep shot before Wood could return to the goal area.

"Everyone was yelling, 'She's off the line!'" Wilson said. "I looked up and then I just shot it. I tried to hit it over — It went over."

Honorable mentions

In the 31st minute, Fairport goalkeeper Addison Tally may have made the game's most impressive save. Catrina Rowe met a corner kick by the left post for a tough but clean shot. The ball flew past Avery Slater, but fortunately for Fairport, Tally was behind behind her for the point-blank range save. Tally also stopped two shots from Rush senior Alivia Day in the final 20 seconds of regulation.

In the 54th, Fairport's Madison McNulty crashed the net for a header. She would have scored if Wood wasn't right there to make one of her many jaw-dropping saves.

Top players

Andrea Wilson

The Fairport junior didn't miss this time.

When the Red Raiders tied Penfield to share the 2021 Section V Class AA title, Wilson's shot with one second left in regulation rang off the post. After Wednesday's double overtime goal, Wilson now has more pleasant title game memories to share.

Natalie Wood

It's hard to imagine Rush-Henrietta's freshman goalkeeper ever topping this finals performance. Wood officially collected 13 saves, but she made numerous plays to keep the Royal Comets alive. Her blocks left spectators agasp. She moved up the box to fearlessly meet Fairport forwards. Wilson's game-winning shot was too high to stop, but Wood still got her fingers on it.

"That's the best I've seen her play," coach Natalie said. "She played a fantastic game. I felt so bad for her."

Unsung heroes

Fairport's defense

Seniors Gianna Romano and Marykate Rudnicki joined juniors Avery Slater and Caroline Granville in helping keeper Tally tally another shutout. They stalled Rush's forwards like Day and Daynea Robinson and prevented clean through balls.

Rush-Henrietta's defense

Wood's defense faced many shots, but most chances were of high difficulty. Layla McLean, Shayna Patel, Ava Santiago, Ciena Craw collided with Fairport's forwards on 50-50 balls and held their marks. Even Rush's midfield stepped up during a courageous 99-minute performance.

Savanna Biehler

Fairport's speedy sophomore forward was all over the field. Biehler threatened the Royal Comets with soft crosses and smooth touches, joining Eliana Biehler and McNulty in playing through their center midfielders to command possession with distance shots across the final 59 minutes.

What's next

Fairport will play either Lancaster or Orchard Park from Section VI in the New York State Public High School Far West Regional at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at Caledonia-Mumford. The Section VI championship is Saturday.

Lancaster (12-5-0) is ranked No. 13 in the state. Fairport is 20th.

"We'll be ready," Natalie said. "We feel that we can play with anyone. Our record isn't the greatest, but it's not indicative of what we have as a team."

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V girls soccer: Fairport beats Rush-Henrietta for title