Mount Academy reaches third state girls soccer final in a row, tops Sauquoit in semifinal
HOMER – The birthday cake can wait another day.
Goalkeeper Corah Boller celebrated her 16th birthday by presenting a gift to her Mount Academy teammates, finishing off a 3-0 shutout of Sauquoit Valley in the state semifinals on Saturday at chilly Homer High School.
Senior Brooke Huleatt set younger sister Kayley for the first goal in the 16th minute and then scored two of her own, staking the Eagles to a 3-0 lead in the 22nd minute.
Mount Academy (19-0) has won Section 9 titles the past four fall seasons and claimed the state Class D titles in 2021 and 2022 – the state third-ranked Eagles moved up in class this season, and will bid for their first Class C crown at 10 a.m. Sunday against No. 2 ranked Waterford-Halfmoon of Section 2, also at Homer High School.
2023 NYSPHSAA tourney: Check out where our Section 9 champs are playing in states
Boller made some saves early in the first half to keep the game scoreless.
“I think having to make those plays early on in the game really gets me checked in,’’ Boller said, “because sometimes you're back there and you don't get much action.’’
Though the outcome was well in hand, Sauquoit Valley applied a lot of pressure in the final five minutes but it seemed the Mount Academy defenders got a foot on every pass and every shot.
“You see the second and the third effort,’’ said coach John Huleatt. “If we get beat once the recovery run on our entire team is the fastest run on the field.’’
And Boller let out a big exhale when a quality chance in the final seconds sailed wide, preserving the ‘zero’ on the scoreboard.
“I’m very relieved that we didn’t let in a goal,’’ Boller said, “because it’s been a big thing for us this season to keep as many shutouts as we can.’’
“I thought we played gutsy,’’ John Huleatt said. “I thought we played with good defensive integrity and real team effort, back to front. Obviously, a clean sheet is huge against an opponent of that quality.’’
On the first goal Brooke Huleatt sent a corner kick from the left wing. Kayley made a curl cut inside the box and re-directed it off goalkeeper Katherine Judway and into the net.
“In the first half we focus on trying to jump the other team because they’re not expecting our pace,’’ Brooke said.
Almost five minutes later, Kayley took a free kick from 35 yards that skipped once. Judway gave up the rebound and Brooke scored with her left foot.
About a minute later, Brooke ran past two defenders during a 55-yard run, cutting from the middle toward the left sideline – she said her team’s extensive physical training made it possible. A fullback tried to rush out to meet Huleatt but she got off a low shot that may have surprised Judway as it rolled into the far side of the cage.
2023 season: Section 9 girls soccer coaches select all-section, all-class teams
Waterford-Halfmoon (18-1-2) beat No. 5 ranked Holley of Section 5 3-0 in the second semifinal. The Fordians beat Sauquoit Valley 6-3 in the 2022 Class C title match.
X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Mount Academy blanks Sauquoit Valley in girls soccer state semifinal
