Women’s Soccer – Lady Lakers Advance onto Regional Championship Final

CANANDAIGUA – The Lady Lakers, ranked third in the nation, hosted the Herkimer County CC Lady Generals on Tuesday in the semifinals of the region III-B playoffs. The Lady Generals advanced onto its meeting with Finger Lakes yesterday after they took down Jamestown CC in a penalty kick shootout at home last Saturday (10/20). The Lady Lakers, who earned a first round bye in this year's regionals, came into the home game seeded second in the B bracket. Herkimer came into the contest supporting a seven seed along with a 10-5-4 record. FLCC donned a 17-1-1 record.

Both teams, having met earlier in the 2012 regular season, played yesterday's game on a gloomy and wet day in front of a packed crowd. The Lady Lakers, who drew (nil-nil) with the Lady Generals back on 9/20 at Herkimer's place in double overtime, came into the matchup looking to use that scoreless tie as a motivational factor. They did just that. FLCC, who knew it was up against an excellent contender in Herkimer, shutout the visitors by a score of 6-nil.

The Lady Generals, who spent several weeks ranked inside the top 10 in the nation during the regular season, were hurt by the hot feet of Cayli Carmona and Hannah Dalle in the postseason affair. Combined, both of these Lady Lakers accounted for 5 of FLCC's 6 goals. Carmona, who sits atop of the nation in scoring, recorded a hat trick of goals to go along with an assist. Dalle stood right behind her in the goal-scoring column as she found the back of Herkimer's net twice on the rain-soaked afternoon. She also tacked on an assist to go along with her helpers.

Scoring the Lady Lakers remaining goal was freshman defender Rachel Hefner.

Paige Smith and Jessa Blondell both rounded out FLCC's offense by contributing one assist apiece.

Overall, the Lady Lakers outshot the Lady Generals by a difference of 26-3. FLCC's keeper Kristy Kirkpatrick, who played all 90 minutes in net, recorded 3 saves in the win.

With the loss, Herkimer finished its 2012 campaign with a record of 10-6-4. Overall, they put together a solid season, which was headed by six shutout victories. The Lady Generals, despite not advancing, were a team to be reckoned with all season long.

The win pushed FLCC into the finals of its bracket. The Lady Lakers, who are now 18-1-1, will take on Mohawk Valley CC this Saturday (10/27) in a championship rematch from a year ago. FLCC took down Mohawk in the 2011 region III finals by a score of 1-nil (game was held at Herkimer County CC).

The two teams, expecting to be locked in another showdown in this year's finals, played earlier during the 2012 regular season. In that game, which was played on 9/11, the Lady Lakers claimed a 2-1 road victory. That loss up to this point has been the only one thus far this season for Mohawk. The Lady Hawks, currently ranked fourth in the nation, will carry a 19-1-1 record into this weekend's contest.

Mohawk, seeded third in the regionals, advanced onto the finals after taking down Erie CC yesterday at home – 4-1. Saturday's matchup (which is going to be held at Tompkins Cortland CC) is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m.