SECTION IV GIRLS SOCCER: DRYDEN SINKS WAVERLY, 2-1, IN OVERTIME IN CLASS B QUARTERFINALS (24 PHOTOS) (October 21, 2023)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY - Waverly had all the momentum heading into overtime, but in an instant is was gone, and the season over, thanks to a 35-yard shot by Emma Lobdell five minutes into overtime that lifted fifth-seeded Dryden to a 2-1 win over fourth-seeded Waverly here Saturday night in the quarterfinals of the Section IV, Class B girls soccer playoffs at Memorial Stadium

"A tough loss is one way to put it," said Waverly coach Tara Hogan. "With the momentum we finally got toward the end, I thought we had them.

"In the last 20 minutes, we had it — it was ours," she said. "We were on their side of the field, we had the energy, we had the home field, you could hear our fans — everything was clicking.

"And … that was a hell of a goal. It was a great goal," added Hogan. "I told (keeper) Claire (Clonch) even if you got a hand on it, with how much she had on it, and the wet ball, it wouldn’t have mattered."

After nearly 60 minutes of scoreless action, Laci Prignon put Dryden on the board off a corner kick. With the ball loose in a crowded box, Prignon touched the ball past Waverly keeper Claire Clonch.

Dryden had controlled the action for the first 60 minutes, but Waverly started to play with a sense of urgency, and began to put pressure on the Dryden goal.

With less than two minutes remaining, senior Paige Robinson slid a through-ball deep into the box to freshman McKenzie Olmsted, who took two dribbles, and blasted a shot past the keeper with 1:37 remaining for an apparent game-tying goal.

The score was disallowed, however, by an offsides call.

Waverly controlled the ensuing goal kick, and with 1:21 remaining in the contest sophomore Maddie Cron was taken down in the box. Olmsted converted the penalty kick to tie the game at 1-1.

Hogan said she wasn’t surprised by her’s team response to the goal being waived off.

"I always credit the girls, they never hang their heads," she said. "These girls keep their heads and their wits abut them, and stay calm, cool, and collected.

"Their heads were up, and they kept pushing, and it paid off," added Hogan.

For the entire first half, and part of the second half, Dryden beat Waverly to nearly every 50-50 ball, and spent the majority of the game with the ball in Waverly’s defensive end.

"I wish I could say it was nerves, but the last couple games we were playing like that … we’ve been flat," said Hogan.

"I told the girls Thursday’s ‘something’s gotta give. We have to bring the team that I know we are.’

"The energy at practice is always great … it just wasn’t transferring," noted Hogan. "Even the energy is practice is good … I think they’ve been getting in their own heads."

"That’s the best game we’ve played since we lost 6-0 to Chenango Valley," added Hogan. "We finally got to see the confidence again today."

Of course, Hogan said she had to make some changed to find that spark.

"We moved a lot of girls around.

"We needed Paige (Robinson’s) energy, so we moved her up, and we moved Lea (VanAllen) back to center-mid, and moved McKenzie (Olmsted) up top so we had four forwards.

"We had to find something that clicked, and mostly it was about ‘who’s going to bring the energy,’ she said.

"It paid off in the end," added Hogan. "We were just waiting for one good pass to get to McKenzie, or one good pass to Maddie (Cron), or to Kaylin Twedt.

In overtime, Dryden controlled the ball from the outset, but didn’t threaten until Lobdell unleashed the game-winner with 9:10 remaining in the first overtime period.

Waverly wraps up its first season in the STAC with an 8-7-1 record, and will graduate five seniors — Abby Blauvelt, Faith Blauvelt, Olivia Robinson, Paige Robinson, and Lea VanAllen.

"This is a really good group of seniors," said Hogan. "There are going to be some major gaps … gaping holes in our line-up to fill.

"Abby Blauvelt is the epitome of calm. She’s so good under pressure, so we’ll miss that.

"Faith Blauvelt is reliable at forward. We can throw in when we need her, she can run the ball down a little bit, and put some pressure on the defense," said Hogan.

"O-Liv (Olivia Robinson) at outside-right defender … she is a smart player, and is sneaky fast," noted Hogan. "She positions herself so well that she doesn’t have to work her butt off. She positions herself in the right place all the time.

"Paige (Robinson) … I don’t know whose going to fill those shoes. She is an amazing player, and for her to come back from an ACL and be stronger than ever was incredible. Reliable is not a strong enough word when it comes to her.

"Lea (VanAllen) is a jack-of-all-trades … I could put her anywhere," added Hogan. "I wish she had the confidence in herself that I have in her. She sees the gaps that a lot of players don’t see."

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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly McKenzie Olmsted. … PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.