#2 Generals defeat #1 Jersey Blues at home
(Grace Johnson scores the game winner in the 30th on an assist from Michaela Bianca).
(Sydney Stanley got her ninth shutout of the season against Brookdale Saturday at Wehrum Stadium).
HERKIMER, NY – Coming off their first loss of the season this past Wednesday (9/23), the #2 Herkimer General women’s soccer team made up for it Saturday (9/26) at home, defeating #1 Brookdale Community College 1-0 in regulation to give the Jersey Blues their first loss of the season.
Herkimer (9-1, 1-1) came out with a lot of energy in the first five minutes of the game, accumulating one shot on goal and two corners. That energy carried into the first goal of the game after Kalli Warmingham (Newport, NY) beat a Brookdale defender to the ball on the right side of the field, deep in Brookdale territory, finding teammate Kendra Henry (Owego, NY) who serviced the ball toward the net which found Grace Johnson (Tully, NY) who eventually netted the goal in the top-left of the net with a bicycle kick in the 30th for the 1-0 lead. Michaela Bianca (Guilderland, NY) was awarded the assist, her ninth of the season, finding Johnson inside the 18 after she initially fell, getting back up and scoring with the right foot for her eighth goal of the season.
Each team had shots on goal in the final 13 minutes of play, but goalies Sydney Stanley (Schoharie, NY) for Herkimer and Martie Stewart for Brookdale were in position to make the play, keeping it at 1-0 after 45 minutes. Stanley finished the game with two saves, one more than Stewart. She also collected her ninth shutout of the season, not allowing a goal in any of the Generals wins.
The second half saw Brookdale come out with the same energy Herkimer did in the first, managing two shots on goal and a free kick in the first 15 minutes. The Generals didn’t get their first shot on goal until the 74th when Johnson took the ball coast-to-coast from midfielder to just outside the 18, unable to connect with her left foot to give Herkimer some breathing room with 16 minutes left in regulation.
It didn’t matter though as the team collectively worked together to keep the Jersey Blues off the scoreboard for the first time all season. Big stops came from Jessica Hagadorn (St. Johnsville, NY) and Nicole Doolen (Ilion, NY) in the 81st and 58th minute helped Herkimer collect their ninth shutout in 10 games. Hagadorn stopped consecutive Heather Arbachesky shots inside the 18 with Stanley on the ground, then Doolen cleared a free kick attempt after it ricocheted off the post right to Arbachesky, not allowing the forward to gather the ball for another shot on goal inside the 18.
Herkimer’s tough stretch continues Wednesday (9/30) when they travel to play Hudson Valley Community College. It will be the Generals second of three consecutive games against ranked opponents before they host conference rival Mohawk Valley on October 7th. The Vikings were ranked #8 two polls ago, and SUNY Broome is currently ranked #7 in the nation. Game time between the Vikings and Generals this coming Sunday is 2 p.m.
Score:
#2 Herkimer Generals 1, #1 Brookdale Jersey Blues 0
Halftime:
Herkimer 1-0
GENERALS (9-1, 1-1) Grace Johnson 1-0, Michael Bianca 0-1. Sydney Stanley 2 saves.
JERSEY BLUES (6-1, 2-0) Marti Stewart 1 save.
Next Game: 9/30 at Hudson Valley 2 p.m.