By Chris Metcalf
LCAA’S FINEST
PENN YAN – Despite dominating much of their Class B semifinal against third-seeded Mynderse, the No. 7 Livonia Lady Bulldogs came away empty, falling short in a shootout, 5-3.
While the game will officially go down as a scoreless tie, Mynderse will advance to take on No. 1 Bath-Haverling in Friday’s final.
“We couldn’t have asked for more out of this team,” Livonia coach Jen Bugbee said. “They played amazing soccer and worked every day to get better. These seniors are amazing leaders and good people. They were able to contribute to our success. We had such a great season so proud of these girls.”
This one will hurt because Livonia really dominated 80 percent of this contest.
But, unfortunately, despite having the ball in Mynderse’s end for most of the game, Livonia couldn’t manage to get a solid shot off against the Lady Blue Devils’ keeper.
Mynderse would not mount much of any type of offense through 70 of the 80 regulation minutes but they would start to take possession in the final 10 minutes with two big saves coming from Livonia keeper Mary Kwak.
The senior Kwak also made an amazing save with just five minutes left in the first OT, on a point-blank shot, one-on-one with a Mynderse player, that sent the game into a sudden-death OT period.
Mynderse would shoot first in the PK/shootout situation and immediately put one through for the lead. Livonia, however, would miss their opening opportunity.
During the shootout, Mynderse would make all five of their shots while Livonia’s goals came from Avery Bernard, Olivia Feehan and Hayley Kuhn. Livonia never attempted their fifth shot as Mynderse had already wrapped it up.
Livonia finished their season 10-5-4.
Bernard and Feehan led the way with six goals each as Livonia outscored their opponents 33-17 on the season.
Kwak finished the year with 11 shutouts.
Mynderse improved to 12-4-2 on the season and will take on Bath-Haverling Friday night.
Doug McFarland Photography
