Eagles defeat Poland for third state soccer title in four years.

Chazy boys on top again
Eagles claim 3rd state title in 4 years on Stetson Fields' goal

By JOHN CORYER
Plattsburgh Press Republican Staff Writer
Published November 19, 2007 01:15 am

ONEONTA -- Chazy boys' soccer coach Rob McAuliffe felt his team was due for a big performance.

He was right.

The Eagles captured their third NYSPHSAA Class D championship in the last four years Sunday afternoon, turning in a strong effort in the 1-0 victory over Poland at the Oneonta Soccer Hall of Fame Field.

"We didn't play the way we can last week against Sharon Springs and didn't play as well as we can yesterday against Smithtown Christian," McAuliffe said. "I felt we were due to play well."

"We went back to the basics today and did all the little things it takes. And, we were able to do it against a very good team."

Junior Stetson Fields, who scored both Eagles' goals in Saturday's 2-1 overtime victory over Smithtown Christian, proved to be the difference maker once again.

Fields' goal with 31:11 gone in the second half sent the Eagles on their way.

"Stetson had one of the best finishes I've ever seen at this level," McAuliffe said. "He came up big for us in both games this weekend."

The game-winning play started out when Fields took a thru ball from Jason Baker. Then from the left side of the net inside the 18, the junior sent a superb shot into the side netting on the far side.

Poland keeper Justin Weakley had no chance to make the save on the shot.

"I just wanted to hit it as hard as I could and put it in the net," Fields said. "I did it for the team and wanted to make our seniors happy.

"They (Poland) were a good team and they worked hard. But, we started to hold the possession and were doing our own thing."

Section III-champion Poland was coming off a solid 2-0 victory over Section V's Fillmore the day before and had the size to give the Eagles problems.

In addition, the Tornadoes were looking for some revenge after dropping a 3-0 decision to the Eagles in the 2005 state title contest.

But, Chazy finished with a 14-2 advantage in shots on goal and keeper Jacob Beeman was credited with just one save while recording the shutout.

Chazy held an edge in play over the first 40 minutes, but began to apply even more pressure on the Tornadoes in the second half.

Even after scoring the goal, the Eagles were able to bottle up Poland in their own end for much of the time.

"We had a couple of chances in the first half we probably should have finished on," McAuliffe said.

It was a fitting end to the careers of the seniors on the Chazy team.

"It feels good to get it over with," said Eagles' record-setting scorer Nolan Ryan, who was banged up pretty good over the weekend as Chazy's two opponents keyed on the senior. "I wanted to end my career on a good note."

"I don't care about the stats -- I wanted to win another state championship. That's all I was thinking about. The team really came together. A lot of people didn't think we could do it this year. But, the harder the game, the better we play."

"Nolan is a wonderful player who has made a lot of big plays for us throughout his career," McAuliffe said. "He's a special player."

"But, I've said all along this year that we have other people who can step up and do the job. We lost some seniors from last year, but I knew this team was capable of beating anyone in the state when we played our game. And, we were definitely able to go out and prove it today."

"Our (Chazy) community deserves a lot of credit for their great support. It's something special when both the boys' and girls' team can win state championships in the same season."

--

Chazy 1, Poland 0

Poland 0 0 -- 0

Chazy 0 1 -- 1

Second half- 1, C, Fields (J. Baker), 31:11.

Shots: Chazy 14, Poland 2.

Chazy Boys Win State Championship

Eagles win third title in four years


Both boys and girls teams are NY State Champions!

http://www.wktv.com/news/sports/local/11544701.html

For the second time in three years, the Poland boys soccer team took on top-ranked Chazy from Section VII in the Class D state championship, and for the second time in three years, Chazy won in a shutout, 1-0 at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta.

With each team missing several opportunities to score throughout the game, Chazy finally broke through with 8:56 left in the second half when Stetson Fields put a shot in off the post. The goal proved to be the game-winner, giving the Eagles their third title in four years. Chazy beat Poland 3-0 in the 2005 championship, and also won in 2004 (1-0 against Genesee Valley from Section V).

In a game that was played mostly between the boxes, Poland struggled to control ball possession without senior midfielder and leading scorer Ed Rosenburgh, who had an emergency appendectomy on Monday. But the Tornadoes did prove they could keep up with the Eagles, as each team took turns clearing the ball to the middle of the field. However Chazy's quickness and ability to control the ball eventually paid off when Fields' shot went in.

Chazy ends the season with a 24-1-0 overall record. Poland, which entered the game ranked No. 3 in the state, finishes 19-3-3.

Chazy Girls Share State Championship

Chazy shares state title
Eagles, Lyme play 110 minutes of scoreless soccer in girls' Class D championship match.

Eagles share state Class D title after playing to scoreless tie

By CRAIG KNOWLES
PLattsburgh Press Republican Staff Writer
Published November 18, 2007 01:15 am -

CORTLAND -- The Chazy Eagles reached the pinnacle of state Class D girls' soccer Saturday -- along with their opponents, the Lyme Indians.

On a brisk, windy afternoon at SUNY Cortland, Chazy and Lyme battled through 110 minutes of scoreless play without settling the issue. The girls' state tournament does not allow for a shootout and thus the two were declared co-champions. It's the first time since 2002 that the state recognized co-champions in girls' soccer and only the fourth time in the 24-year history of the tourney. It had never happened before in Class D.

"Neither team deserved to lose," Chazy Coach Joe Dumoulin said. "We wanted to win, but we're happy with being co-champions."

Junior midfielder Madelaine Guay, voted the outstanding player of the championship game, was satisfied with the outcome.

"It was a little disappointing we didn't win; we gave it our all," Guay said. "But I wouldn't want to lose that way. I was happy they didn't do PKs (penalty kicks).

"We worked really hard to get here. The (1-0) loss to E'town really helped us become a better team."

The loss to Elizabethtown-Lewis on Sept. 27 was Chazy's only setback in a 23-1-1 season. The Eagles, over the last two seasons, have compiled a 44-2-1 record.

Olds sets record

Chazy keeper K.C. Olds, in holding off Lyme, set a state record with her 20th shutout of the season.

"It's pretty awesome," Olds admitted. "I actually forgot about it until someone on the P.A. system said it."

Olds was quick to credit the rest of the defense, which she considers "family. Brittany (Godreau), Brigid (Daul), Sam (LaVigne), Meg (Ryan), we've been together since modified soccer. They're the enforcers of front of me."

Olds came up with six saves while Lyme keeper Alex Weston made 12 stops. Chazy held a 16-9 advantage in shots.

Two of Chazy's fledgling Eagles -- freshman Astrid Kempainen and eighth-grader Caitlyn LaPier -- had the best scoring chances of anyone with breakaways early in the first half. However, Weston was up to the challenge, making a huge stop on LaPier's try.

"We didn't get the crosses into the box that we wanted to, but they tended to pack the box," Dumoulin related.

Lyme (22-1-1) double-teamed Victoria Reynolds, whose 40th goal of the campaign lifted Chazy to a 1-0 victory over defending champion Arkport in Friday's semifinals. Marked by a sweeper and stopper, Reynolds had few scoring chances and was forced to dump the ball off to her wings.

"We worked the wings very well, but they were couldn't connect with our crosses," Dumoulin added.

"Both teams were like immovable objects and mirrors of each other."

Chazy 0, Lyme 0, 4 OT

Chazy 000000-- 0

Lyme 000000--0

Shots: Chazy 16, Lyme 9

Saves: Olds, Ch, 6; Weston, Lyme, 12.

Chazy 2, Smithtown Christian 1, OT

Chazy boys reach State Final
Stetson Fields scores twice to send Eagles on to Class D championship game.

By JOHN CORYER
Plattsburgh Press Republican Staff Writer
Published November 18, 2007 01:17 am -

ONEONTA -- On a day where the Chazy boys' soccer team created plenty of scoring chances only to come up empty much of the time, it was Stetson Fields who came to the Eagles' rescue Saturday afternoon.

Fields scored both his team's goals, including the game-winner with 39 seconds gone in the first five-minute, sudden-death overtime session as the Eagles outlasted Smithtown Christian, 2-1, at the Oneonta Soccer Hall of Fame Field to advance to the NYSPHSAA Class D championship contest.

The top-ranked Eagles, who are seeking their third state championship in the last four years, will play Section III's Poland, which recorded an impressive 2-0 victory over Section V's Fillmore in the other Final Four semifinal, today at 1 p.m.

Chazy, which entered the contest with a 21-1 overall record, held a big territorial edge in play in the two 10-minute overtimes, but was unable to finish off the Section XI champions.

But, early in the first five-minute stanza, Nolan Ryan took a long direct kick from straight on that Fields ran onto on the right side. The junior then ripped a shot into the net with 39 seconds gone in the stanza to win it.

"Stetson's a great player who can finish," said Chazy head coach Rob McAuliffe. "He had two great finishes today. The second one wasn't easy because he had to chest the ball down first.

"Stetson didn't have a lot of chances to score today, but he finished on the ones he had. He's the reason why we're playing tomorrow."

The Eagles entered the game as the favorite and things started out well for the Section VII champions when Fields put Chazy in front with 12:44 gone in the opening half of play.

Jason Baker got the ball to Fields, who made a run down the left side. Fields then sent a low, hard shot into the net past Crusaders keeper Dereck Adam.

The Eagles, however, were unable to get that all-important second goal.

They came close 15 minutes into the second half when Fields drove a shot low off the post.

"They (Smithtown Christian were a very good team and then defended well," McAuliffe said. "They were organized on defense and well coached.

"I felt we had the opportunities to make it 2-0 in the first half, but were unable to do so. And, we kept pressing for the second goal. We knew we were going to get our chances."

But, at 26:05, the Crusaders drew even when Tom Hanft got the ball on the corner of the box and sent a nice lofting shot into the far corner.

"After having numerous chances, we gave them one opportunity to score and they were able to take advantage of it," McAuliffe said.

Chazy nearly regained the lead with five minutes left in regulation when Ryan was able to get past the Smithtown Christian defense on a breakaway. A Crusader defender, however, did get back into the play enough to bother Ryan, who took a shot that was stopped by Adam.

"Nolan is banged up," said McAuliffe. "He hurt his knee earlier this year and hurt it again today."

Chazy continued to apply pressure in overtime before the Eagles will finally able to break through.

"We were putting a lot of people in the box," McAuliffe said. "We were going for it in overtime and not looking to stay back."

The Eagles finished with a one-sided 27-6 advantage in shots on goal.

Jacob Beeman made four saves in net for Chazy and Adam stopped 16 shots for Smithtown Christian, which came into the game with a 9-5-2 overall record.

"We played better than we did last weekend (in a 2-0 win over Sharon Springs)," McAuliffe said. "We played pretty well overall.

"But, we will need to do a better job finishing on our chances tomorrow or we'll be in trouble."

--

Chazy 2, Smithtown Christian 1, OT

Smithtown Christian 0 1 0 0 0 -- 1

Chazy 1 0 0 0 1 -- 2

First half- 1, C, Fields (J. Baker), 12:44.

Second half- 2, SC, Hanft, 26:05.

First five-minute overtime- 3, C, Fields (Ryan), :39.

______________________________

CHAZY 2, SMITHTOWN CHRISTIAN 1

Smithtown Christian nipped by state's best

New York Newsday, November 18, 2007

BY JOSEPH STASZEWSKI |joseph.staszewski@newsday.com

ONEONTA - Smithtown Christian takes pride in never backing down. Anyone who watched the Knights play Section VII's Chazy Central Rural yesterday saw why.

They could have easily folded against the state's top-ranked Class D squad. Instead, Smithtown Christian (9-7-3) used superb play from goalie Derek Adam and its defense to force a third overtime, before losing, 2-1, in a boys soccer state semifinal at the Soccer Hall of Fame.

"I'm proud of these guys," Smithtown Christian coach Pat Nieto said. "They hung in there. We are known for our intensity and never backing down. At least we proved it."

Stetson Fields scored the winner 39 seconds into the third overtime on Nolan Ryan's perfectly placed free kick from midfield. Fields also gave Chazy (23-1) a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute.

Tom Hanft chipped in a shot to the far post to tie the score at 1 in the 86th minute.

Without the play of Adam the score could have been more lopsided. The senior made 13 saves and also stayed in the game after a very hard collision with Ryan with 3:43 left in the first half.

"I was not going to come out," Adam said. "This is the biggest game of my life. I was not going to give it to somebody else."

"It shows Smithtown Christian is on this map now," Nieto said. "We'll be back."

Final 4 Preview

Chazy boys renew state title bid

Eagles to take on Smithtown Christian today in Class D soccer semifinals.

By JOHN CORYER
Staff Writer
Plattsburgh Press Republican, published November 17, 2007 12:48 am -

PLATTSBURGH -- Winning one state championship is plenty difficult enough in any sport.

Chazy, however, will be seeking its third NYSPHSAA Class D boys' soccer championship in the last four years when it takes part in the Final Four this weekend at the Oneonta Soccer Hall of Fame Fields.

First up for the Section VII-champion Eagles, who are the top-ranked Class D team in the state with a 21-1 overall record, is Section XI's Smithtown Christian (9-5-2) at 1 p.m. today in the semifinal round.

The other semifinal has Section III's Poland versus Section V's Fillmore, also at 1 p.m. The title contest is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.

"We've never played Section XI before," said Chazy head coach Rob McAuliffe. "We have some scouting reports on them.

"But, any team that makes it this far has to be quite a team. The weaker teams are gone by now."

The Eagles, who advanced to the Final Four with last Saturday's 2-0 victory over Section II's Sharon Springs at Colonie High School, have had one goal from the start of the season and that's to win another state title.

"There were people who probably believed this year's team couldn't get this far," McAuliffe said. "But, our players believed in themselves and have stayed focused all season.

"Our goal from Day 1 is to win a state championship and that's always our goal. It's a burden in some ways. But, we're very healthy, prepared and focused.

"We feel we can beat anyone in the state if we play well. But, we also know we can lose if we don't play as well as we're capable of.

Chazy's bid for three-consecutive state championships in a row never got started last season when Elizabethtown-Lewis defeated the Eagles in the Section VII title contest. Chazy topped the Lions this year in the finals.

"It was a huge disappointment when we lost to Elizabethtown-Lewis in the sectional finals last year," McAuliffe said. "It did help motivate us this year even more to achieve our goal.

"Elizabethtown-Lewis is a good team and it was more of a relief this year when we defeated them to win the sectional title."

The Eagles then took care of Section X champion Parishville-Hopkinton, 3-0, in regional play and then won a regional championship with last weekend's victory over Sharon Springs.

"We have six starters back from last year and this is a special time for us," McAuliffe said. "We have players who were on our 2005 team and who now have different roles on the team this season. They are key players for us now.

"Nolan Ryan is a great player for us and he scored three goals in our win over Parishville-Hopkinton. We're certainly confident we can win when Nolan plays well.

"But, our team also has the confidence it can still win when he isn't having his best game. We were able to beat Sharon Springs without Nolan scoring."

The record-shattering Ryan leads the Eagles with 45 goals, 25 assists and 115 points. He is followed in scoring by Stetson Fields (20-13-53), Kenny Bulriss (19-11-49), Jason Baker (9-15-33) and Ben Baker (6-9-21).

The Chazy defense, with Jacob Beeman in net, has also been solid all season with 14 shutouts thus far.

Smithtown Christian has scored 29 goals this season and allowed 27. Four players are tied for the team lead in goals with a very modest four apiece.

The Section XI champions defeated Section IX's The Family School, 2-0, in regional final play when Roland Adam scored 10 minutes into the game after Larry Kim had hit the crossbar with a shot and then Tony Hanft an insurance goal eight minutes into the second half.

In Smithtown Christian's prior game, Kim and Adam tallied first-half goals in a 2-0 victory over Greenport in the Suffolk County Class D title contest.

Video clip of Chazy vs. Sharon Springs

Here's a link to a video clip of the game from Albany's Fox channel:


http://player.clipsyndicate.com/view/1805/442602?cpt=8

State Quarterfinals: Chazy 2, Sharon Springs 0

Eagles overcome mistakes, Sharon Springs in boys' Class D soccer.

Chazy boys reach NY State Semis Again


By JOHN CORYER
Plattsburgh Press Republican Staff Writer
Published November 11, 2007 01:01 am -

COLONIE -- Good teams find a way to win -- even when they're not at the top of their game.

The Chazy boys' soccer team didn't bring its usual "A" game Saturday to Colonie High School.

The talented and determined Eagles, however, are going to another Final Four following a 2-0 victory over Section II's Sharon Springs in NYSPHSAA Class D regional championship action.

Chazy heads to Oneonta for Saturday's Final Four semifinals at 1 p.m. against Section XI's Smithtown Christian, a 2-0 winner over Section IX's Family Home,

The Eagles' win Saturday makes it eight Final Fours in 11 years under head coach Rob McAuliffe.

"We play to move on and all that matters to us is winning a state title," McAuliffe said. "The kids are excited to move on."

"We didn't play our best soccer today -- we didn't play as well as we did in our sectional final or the opening round in the state playoffs. But, it wasn't from a lack of effort in this game. The kids played so hard."

The Section VII-champion Eagles (22-1), ranked No. 1 in the state among Class D schools, came out tight and had to weather a little early pressure from the Spartans (9-10-2).

Chazy, however, began to take over the play and broke out on top at 27:07 of the first half.

Nolan Ryan's throw-in resulted in a loose ball scramble in front of the Sharon Springs' goal and Kyle Reynolds was able to head the ball into the net from close range.

"(Kyle) Reynolds' play sometimes goes unnoticed," McAuliffe said. "But, he did a good job today on (Ryan) Brown, who is a handful to cover. Reynolds also scored our first goal of the game. I'm happy for him."

"I felt pretty good with us having a 1-0 lead at the half. But, I didn't feel as safe as I did in other games we have played."

It was a great day for the Reynolds family as Kyle's sister, Victoria, scored three times in the Chazy girls' 4-0 regional soccer win over Harrisville.

The Eagles then took advantage of a Sharon Springs defensive miscue to make it 2-0 with 6:42 gone in the second half.

Another Ryan throw-in resulted in the ball being knocked around the box and Stetson Fields sent a low shot from inside the area on net. Spartans' keeper Douglas Ullman bent over for the save, but the ball managed to slip between his legs and into the net.

The Eagles' defense was up to the task the remainder of the way.

"We did play good defense -- we were able to deny them good scoring chances," McAuliffe said. "Sharon Springs played hard and physical. They had nothing to lose and deserve a lot of credit. I think their size hurt us a lot. They were physical and we couldn't get into a steady rhythm."

"It was kind of a funny game. We would play well for spurts and poorly at other times. We weren't able to string anything together for an extended time."

Chazy held a 15-7 shot advantage, with Jacob Beeman recording the shutout in net with four saves.

Still, McAuliffe was happy to get this one out of the way and to move on.

"Our team has come together very well this year and they are determined to win a state title," he said.

"We will have a chance to do so if we continue to play good defense and get good offense at times."

Chazy 2, Sharon Springs 0

Chazy 1 1 -- 2

Sharon Springs 0 0 -- 0

First half- 1, C, Reynolds, 27:07.

Second half- 2, C, Fields, 6:42.

Shots: Chazy 15, Sharon Springs 7.

Saves: Beeman, C, 4. Ullman, SS, 7.