Spencerport girls soccer finishes unbeaten season with state championship

DRYDEN — To celebrate a long-awaited state championship, Spencerport's girls soccer team blasted Queen's "We are the Champions" while parading out of TC Turf Field on Sunday.

The Rangers' 2-0 win over Section XI's Smithtown West in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA championship game was another defensive work of art by Cate Burns and Kendall Mesh's unit that broke Section V's shutout record.

Spencerport's storybook season ended at Tompkins Cortland Community College as Burns earned her 20th clean sheet, ending her career as the sole owner of the section's single season shutout record. With help from a crew of star defenders led by Kendall Mesh, Burns helped Spencerport outscore opponents by 99 goals.

"The defense was remarkable," Spencerport coach Jamie Schneider said. "Best goal differential we've ever had. ... We've had some really, really good teams, but I'm absolutely impressed by the defensive effort."

Lindsay Lenhard's perennial playmaking, and timely goals from Emily Peacock and Emma Watson, capped a perfect season to forever stamp their place into New York State soccer lore. Not to mention, the Rangers won a record-breaking eighth straight Section V championship this fall.

"To consistently perform like this is tough. You have one off day and you lose. So for us to have this consistency is remarkable. I'm very proud of them," Schneider said.

What it means for Spencerport

Schneider's Spencerport Rangers ended the season with an unblemished 23-0-0 record. The Rangers captured their third state championship, sharing 2017 title after solely winning the 2016 crown. Spencerport was the NYS runner-up in 2019.

Award winners

Most Outstanding Player: Spencerport's Kendall Mesh

The senior center back's award is a true testament to how much Spencerport values defense. Mesh's sliding tackle saved a chance from inside the box in the 28th minute. She made clutch blocks, beat Bulls to long balls, and always stayed between the ball carrier and the net. Anastasia Barczys and Liana Tata assisted Mesh in keeping Smithtown West to few solid chances.

Spencerport conceded its third goal of the season in Saturday's 3-1 semifinal win over Section I's Somers. Mesh said the goal was to register one more clean sheet in the state final.

"We weren't going to let our team down," Mesh said. "We knew what we had to do. My other outside backs, they did amazing denying everything. I couldn't be more proud of them."

Most Outstanding Goalkeeper: Spencerport's Cate Burns

Burns stands alone in the Section V record books after collecting her 20th shutout, which also tied the state record set by Chazy's K.C. Olds in 2007. Burns surpassed former Jasper-Troupsburg star Elizabeth Groff's previous Section V standard of 19 clean sheets set in 2013. Spencerport astoundingly outscored teams 102-3.

On Saturday, Burns' boisterous commands could be heard from Homer as she directed her defense's protections. Smithtown West's few shots on goal were clean saves. Burns caught the Bulls' final shot on goal in the 66th minute to all but secure her historic state title game shutout.

Burns became emotional in praising Mesh, Barczys, Tata and all of her teammates for her success.

"My mindset going into this season was to be locked in every moment of every practice, every game, and I feel like I proved that this year with only conceding three goals," Burns said. "I just wanted to be the best player, not just for myself, but for my team. (They're) all a great group of girls and I wanted to make sure I was in the best shape for them."

Most Outstanding Player: Smithtown West's Kayla Pardini

She was Smithtown West's best chance at generating goals. Her Bulls beat Burns to the ball once in the first half, but the golden opportunity was shot wide right. Otherwise, Pardini and Madeline Sacco had trouble against one of the best teams New York State has ever seen.

Spencerport's Jamie Keens and Isabella Fiorillo were physical in restricting Pardini from clean touches. Carley Oakden and Jayda Solomon never let Pardini get comfortable.

"I thought our defense was capable of it, but I knew it was really going to take a great performance," Schneider said.

Top plays

To no surprise, Lindsay Lenhard was a catalyst in both Spencerport goals. Her footwork was precise when cutting through the Bulls' physical defense. Each of her corner kicks were money, and she almost scored a bar-down goal.

But Lenhard's biggest play came on her direct kick that Peacock finished with a header for a 1-0 lead with 71 seconds left in the first half. Schneider said Peacock's goal was a "great individual effort".

"I ran right into it," Peacock said. "It was a perfect ball by Lindsay. It felt great."

In the 57th, Lenhard's pinpoint through ball found Aleena Solano for a clean cross. Peacock was on the other end and dished to Oakden, who fed Watson atop the goal area for a header. Watson's shot smashed into the post, ricocheted off the goalkeeper and through the net for a 2-0 advantage.

Lenhard then dropped back on defense with every other Spencerport player but Peacock to preserve the lead.

"To be able to look up in the stands and see all of our fans, to be able to go home and celebrate and be with each other amazing," Lenhard said. "To be able to come back from the two years we fell a little short, it feels so surreal to be here in this moment."

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Spencerport beats Smithtown West for NY state girls soccer championship