Kendall girls repeat as sectional champs

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 30 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Lady Eagles top South Seneca in Class C2 title contest

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall captains Taylor ReQua, Maya Rutland, Julia Smith, Jenna Jacob and Taylor Rutland and Coach Pam Beres hold up the championship trophy after the Lady Eagles title victory over South Seneca this evening at Caledonia-Mumford.

Rebounding from an early deficit, top seeded Kendall battled back to defeat No. 3 South Seneca 4-1 this evening to capture a second straight Section V Class C2 girls soccer championship.

Four different players – Taylor ReQua, Hailee Mitchell, Taylor Rutland and Maya Rutland – took turns scoring the goals for Kendall which improves to 19-0 and advances to the Section V Class C state qualifier game Tuesday against C1 champion Cal-Mum, a 3-1 victor over Gananda.

“To have four different players score goals is great. It’s just a fantastic win and a great team effort,” said Kendall Coach Pam Beres. “The girls just played great. We played our game for 80 minutes and the girls did exactly what they had to do.”

Kendall’s Taylor Rutland, right, goes high for the ball against Emily Lavarnway of South Seneca.

Kendall fell behind for just the second time this season when Emily Dey scored for South Seneca just 2:55 into the game. It was only the third goal the Lady Eagles have allowed in 19 games.

However, Kendall came battling back to first tie the game on a penalty kick goal by ReQua just 10 minutes later, and then to take the lead for good at 2-1 on a crossing shot goal by Mitchell with 14 minutes to go in the opening half. The goals were the 11th of the season for ReQua and the second for Mitchell who was brought up from the JV ranks late in the season.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game but when they got that early goal our girls kept their composure and didn’t flinch or get frazzled. They came out strong,” said Beres.

Elizabeth Rath of the Lady Eagles keeps the ball away from the Falcons Vicki Sturdivant.

Kendall went on to control play throughout the second half but it remained a tight 2-1 contest until the Lady Eagles finally broke it open with two goals in the final five and a half minutes.

Taylor Rutland upped the lead to 3-1 when she scored he 12th goal of the season off a free kick by ReQua with 5:25 remaining.

Maya Rutland then capped off the victory when she netted her 29th goal of the season with just 2:55 to go off an assist from Jenna LoSapio.