Lady Hawks set for first state soccer semifinal

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Holley goalie Layne Walker and her Lady Hawks teammates will make their first appearance in the state Class C semifinal on Saturday.

Heading into this weekend across New York State only four Class C girls soccer teams are still playing – and one of the is Holley.

Entering the state Final Four for the first time, Holley will face Waterford-Halfmoon (Section II) in the state semifinals at noon Saturday at Homer High School near Cortland.

The Lady Hawks bring a 18-3 record into the semis while Waterford-Halfmoon, which blanked Northern Adirondack 4-0 in the Capital District Regional, is 18-1-2.

“They will be a solid team. They have similar stats as Bergen as far as goal scoring goes. I’ve watched a lot of film, they play similar to us,” said Holley Coach Renee Wolf. “Should be a great game, we are looking forward to it.”

The victor will advance to the championship game at 10 a.m. Sunday at Homer against the winner of the other semifinal between Mount Academy (Section IV) and Sauquoit Valley (Section III).

It has truly been a postseason of firsts for the Lady Hawks which captured a first ever Section V state qualifier win with a 3-2 overtime victory over Genesee Region League foe Byron-Bergen and then claimed a first ever Far West Regional title with a 2-0 win over Section VI champion Frewsburg.

Waterford-Halfmoon, which has outscored its opponents 132-16, is led offensively by the quartet of Payton Galuski, an 8th grader with 40 goals and 16 assists, senior Addyson Galuski 27 goals and 14 assists, sophomore Mia O’Brien 21 goals and 13 assists and senior Cassidy McClement 18 goals and 20 assists.

Holley’s offense has been spearheaded by senior Samantha Bates who has 29 goals and 10 assists. In all, the Lady Hawks have received goal scoring contributions from no less than 15 players including senior Jailyn Bishop (11 goals, 13 assists), senior Emma Brady (9 goals, 9 assists), senior Bella Thom (5 goals, 7 assists). senior Leigha Walker (4 goals, 3 assists), junior Alivia Wolf (4 goals, 6 assists), junior Zoey Wolf (4 goals, 2 assists). freshman Mia Thom (3 goals, 4 assists), eighth grader Hanna Ostrom (2 goals, 7 assists), junior Alexia Renner (2 goals, 4 assists). senior Alyssa Wright (2 goals, 2 assists), junior Natalie Foose (1 goal, 4 assists), senior Caitlin Dobri (1 goal, 2 assists), senior Ryleigh Weader (1 goal) and junior Mackenzie Fiorito (1 goal).

Anchoring the Holley defense has been senior goalie Layne Walker, who has a goals against average of 0.71, along with defenders Bella Thom, Leigha Walker, Zoey Wolf and Alivia Wolf.

The student body will give the team a big sendoff this afternoon with a pep assembly in the gymnasium.

Fans are remined that tickets must be purchased on-line in advance.

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