Story Created:
Nov 5, 2008 at 9:26 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Nov 18, 2008 at 4:19 PM EDT
CHITTENANGO, NY (WKTV) - Section III, Class C champion Cazenovia scored 36 seconds into Wednesday's state Class C play-in at Chittenango and held on the rest of the way, earning a trip to the state playoffs with a 1-0 win over Class D champion Little Falls.
Cazenovia's goal was scored by Tori Widwick off an assist by Lindsey Smith.
The Lady Lakers, who were the No. 3 seed in the Section III, Class C bracket, controlled possession throughout the game against Little Falls, the top seed from Class D. Cazenovia out-shot Little Falls 6-4, with the Lady Mounties managing just one shot in the second half.
Little Falls got a big chance to tie on a penalty corner with just over three minutes left in the second half, but could not get a shot off. The Lady Mounties had a handful of free hits in Cazenovia's zone in the final two minutes, but they either went nowhere or were blown dead by high hits.
The victory sends Cazenovia, now 15-5-1, to the NYSPHSAA Class C playoffs. Little Falls finishes the season 18-3.
The play-in game is required because while Section III has a Class D for field hockey, the state tournament does not. So each season the C and D sectional champions must face off in a play-in game to make the Class C tournament.
