Three Bottoni goals leads Webster Thomas to Section V field hockey title: What to know
There are things about season-ending losses that can get a team, from players to coaches, to zero-in during the following season.
The Webster Thomas Titans were disappointed to lose in the 2022 Section V Class A Field Hockey Tournament Final. This fall, the Titans (14-2-2) were dominant.
Thy finished this season's Class A tournament Monday at Irondequoit with a 4-2 win over Penfield and the trophy that eluded their grasp last fall.
"I think we just really work together and pushed toward our goal of winning sectionals," Webster Thomas sophomore Olivia Bottoni said.
Pittsford Sutherland and Pittsford Mendon, the Section V Class B/C Tournament finalists, are the only teams to have defeated Webster Thomas. The Titans finished a regular-season game against Penfield (12-4-2) in a tie and advanced past Hilton in the sectional semifinal after a shootout, also technically a tie. Webster Thomas also defeated those opponents during the regular season.
Webster Thomas vs Penfield: Player of the game
Webster Thomas sophomore Olivia Bottoni scored three of her team's goals against Penfield in the sectional final.
Play of the game
The Penfield Patriots were in rally-mode and had reduced Webster Thomas' lead to 3-2, when Bottoni scored her third goal with 10:31 remaining in the fourth quarter.
By the numbers
2 - Goals scored by Penfield forward Mikayla Mrzywka, a junior who was voted on to two Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Field Hockey Teams by coaches in Section V.
:00 - Time remaining in the first quarter when Kristina Fisher scored a penalty corner that gave the Titans a 2-0 lead.
3 - Assists by Sophia Shortino, one of nine seniors among the Webster Thomas Titans.
2 - Assists by Webster Thomas sophomore Frankie Rao, a second-year varsity team member.
1 - Assist by Penfield senior forward Johanna Salzbrenner
10 - Number of times the Titans have scored three or more goals this season.
More: Section V field hockey scores for the 2023 season
They said it
"It is the best thing ever, we've worked so hard. I'm just on cloud nine, right now. We wanted this badly." - Webster Thomas sophomore Frankie Rao.
"We were dominant, and just focused. So we just kept on working. We probably had five or six different lineups when we first started, then we stuck with a lineup the last probably six games, and it's worked for us." - Webster Thomas coach Kyle Smith.
"It's so exciting, I love playing with all of my best friends. I'm so proud of us work together as a team. We finally came out on top." - Webster Thomas sophomore Olivia Bottoni.
What's next for Webster Thomas field hockey
Webster Thomas is in the Class A state tournament, where it will face the Section VI or Buffalo area champion, either Clarence (15-1) or Orchard Park (12-4), in the regional round November 4.
All three Section V vs. Section VI state quarterfinals on Saturday are at Webster Thomas, the Class A matchup is 2 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Webster Thomas beats Penfield for Section V field hockey championship
