SECTION IV GIRLS SOCCER: HANEY LIFTS TIOGA TO HISTORIC, 6-5, COME-FROM-BEHIND OVERTIME WIN IN CLASS C OPENER (24 PHOTOS) (2023-10-18)
By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportTIOGA CENTER — When sophomore Sophia Haney’s direct kick just 87 seconds into overtime drove into the back of the Unatego net, it marked the end of Tioga’s wild — and historic — come-from-behind, 6-5, win here Wednesday afternoon in the opening round of the Section IV, Class C girls soccer playoffs at Haggerty Field.
The "golden goal" was the fourth of the game for Haney, and also delivered the first postseason win in Tioga girls soccer program history. The Tigers lost in the opening round in their only other appearances in 2008, and ’09.
Tioga coach Jim Walsh said the win was all about resiliency and momentum.
"Resiliency was the word tonight," said Walsh. "There is nothing like a come-from-behind victory, and its even sweeter when the stakes are higher.
"Playoffs in any sport are just a different atmosphere," he noted. "It was truly a game of momentum swings, fortunately, we finished with the momentum. It was fantastic.
"There were a couple of historic firsts tonight," continued Walsh. "It was the first girls sectional win in program history, and the biggest crowd to watch a girls soccer game. The home fan support was phenomenal. They never gave up and I think it inspired the girls.
"It was a fantastic game to be a part of," he added. "And, what a finish."
Unatego dominated the first 15 minutes of the game, with the ball in the Tioga defensive end for the vast majority of time.
The Spartans led 1-0, thanks to goal by Elizabeth Craft about seven minutes into the contest, until 7th-grader Grace Howey chased down a through-ball from senior Elyse Haney and, from 20 yards out, fired a shot inside the near post to tie the game at 1-1 with 23:36 remaining in the first half.
About four minutes later, Unatego’s Natalia Barnes chased down a ball in the box, and lobbed a shot over Tioga keeper Taliah Speer into the net to make it 2-1.
Two minutes later, Sophia Haney set Howey up near the top-of-the-18, and the 7th-grader ripped a shot past the Unatego keeper to tie the game at 2-2.
With 5:24 remaining in the first half, freshman Mia Hall was taken down in the box after chasing down a through-ball from Sophia Haney to put her in a 1-v-1 with the keeper.
Sophia Haney drove the penalty kick into the back of the net to make it 3-2.
The back-and-fourth play continued with both keepers making nice saves to keep the score at 3-2.
With 20 seconds remaining, Speer made a sliding save on a hard shot, then chased down the loose ball to preserve Tioga’s 3-2 advantage at the half.
The Spartans came out of the intermission on fire, scoring on a breakaway about 7 1/2 minutes to tie the game at 3-3, then scoring on a direct kick that deflected off a Tioga defender about two minutes later to take a 4-3 lead.
Unatego scored again, with Barnes scoring her second goal off of Bailey McCoy’s second assist of the game, to take a 5-3 lead.
Even down 5-3, Sophia Haney knew the Tigers weren’t out of it.
"We’ve had a lot comebacks … it was kind of our thing this year."
With 14:04 remaining in the contest, Sophia Haney headed a cross from freshman Marcy Moniz. It ricocheted off the cross, and came straight down. The Unatego keeper appeared to smother it for a save, but the official ruled it landed across the goal line to close the gap to 5-4.
Tioga continued to pressure Unatego, and with 3:21 remaining, Sophia Haney stole a pass near the top-of-the-18, dribbled past two defenders, and beat the keeper from close range, sliding a shot inside the near post to make it 5-5.
With 1:33 remaining in the game, Haney had a direct kick from about 34 yards out, and drilled a shot off the 90 (top corner) on the left side of the goal. It caromed down into the box, where Karlee Noyes got a foot on it, but the Unatego keeper made the stop, and the ball was eventually cleared after several seconds in the box.
"It was really exciting, I was jumping up and down waiting for someone to touch one in. We were unlucky, it happens," said Sophia Haney.
Walsh thought his team was a little unlucky, too.
"It seems like that’s the way it’s been all year. We’ve had so many chances that were so close, and their were a couple others today … but, we kept at it, and one went our way."
In the overtime period, Tioga took immediate control, and Haney was taken down just outside the 18. Her shot on the direct kick was near perfection, sliding under the cross bar, and ripping into the back of the net to give the Tigers the win.
"I was hoping to get another chance," said Sophia Haney.
"I was just trying to focus .. the goal was to put it right under the crossbar," laughed Haney, the pun obviously intended.
"This win is really exciting," she added.
Walsh was impressed with the game-winner.
"She came up gimpy a little bit after the foul, but walked it off, and just blasted it; that’s our captain — what a shot," he said.
Unatego had a 23-16 advantage in shots-on-goal, and a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.
Junior Taliah Speer had 15 saves in net for the Tigers.
"(Taliah Speer) played a fantastic game," said Walsh. "Her head went down when they scored that crazy goal to go up 5-3, but Sophia picked her up a little bit, and she was able to gather herself, and finish strong.
"They scored some crazy goals, two of them were nice plays, and she had no chance, two were just well-placed, and another deflected over her head," added Walsh. "She played fantastic."
Tioga, now 9-5, returns to action Saturday top-seeded Trumansburg (11-1) at 3:30 p.m.
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IN PHOTO 1: Tioga’s Sophia Haney (13) is congratulated by Elyse Haney after her game-winner. … PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
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