Lady Rams claim first sectional soccer title

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart Coach Rich Jennings and team captains Reanna Perkins, Kara Choate, Brooke Livergood and Ava Owens hold the championship plaque high after the B2 title contest this evening against Fredonia at Williamsville North.

Making school history Roy-Hart earned a share of its first girls soccer sectional title by playing to an overtime tie with top seeded Fredonia in the Section VI Class B2 championship game this evening at Williamsville North.

No. 3 seed Roy-Hart and Fredonia battled to a 1-1 tie after 80 minutes of regulation play, two 10 minute overtime periods and two 5 minute sudden death overtime periods resulting in the two teams being declared B2 co-champions.

However, Roy-Hart did claim victory on the evening by outscoring Fredonia 4-2 in a penalty kick shootout earning the Rams a berth in Tuesday’s Section VI Class B state qualifier game.

Roy-Hart’s Kara Choate heads the ball between Fredonia defenders Sophia Gullo (21) and Emily Timmerman (9).

In the order in which they shot, Kaitlyn Mettler, Nadia White, Kara Choate and Grace Parker scored the shootout goals for the Lady Rams as Reanna Perkins made two huge saves on Fredonia shots to help lock up the win.

“This is a dream come true for our program,” said Roy-Hart Coach Rich Jennings. “This is something we’ve been working for for several years. It was a real hard fight and I’m just very proud of the way the kids played.”

Roy-Hart will now face B1 champion Lew-Port for the Section VI Class B berth in the state playoffs at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Williamsville East.

The game’s two regulation time goals both came in the second half.

After banging shots off both the post and the cross bar early in the second half, Roy-Hart grabbed a 1-0 lead when White scored on a long looping shot with 17:09 remaining in regulation time off an assist from Allie Trombley.

However, Fredonia rallied to tie the score on a penalty kick goal with just 2:24 to go in the second half.

The Lady Rams nearly claimed the win in the second 10 minute overtime but could not capitalize on two corner kick chances and on a penalty kick opportunity.

Roy-Hart will now take a 13-1-2 record into the Class B state qualifier while Fredonia ends the season at 116-0-3.

Click here to view a video of the awards ceremony and of Grace Parker’s game winning penalty kick goal.

Roy-Hart goalie Reanna Perkins makes her second clutch save in the shootout.

Roy-Hart’s Ava Livergood sends the ball up field as Annie Gondek comes in to defend for Fredonia.