Mechanicville girls soccer stays unbeaten after stymying rival Stillwater
STILLWATER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Two of the top girls soccer teams in the Wasaren League - Mechanicville and Stillwater - put their unbeaten records to the test Thursday night in a rivalry matchup under the lights at Stillwater.
Mechanicville applied early, offensive pressure, locked down defensively throughout the contest, and came away with a 2-0 victory. The Red Raiders have shut out their last four opponents, and own a +23 goal differential during that span.
After a number of shots on goal that just missed the mark, Mechanicville finally broke the scoring seal in the 24th minute when a left-footed strike from senior striker/midfielder Maddy Hopeck kissed the right post and found the back of the net.
Hopeck had another scoring opportunity just over a minute later when she was granted a penalty kick after her teammate, Gianna Pitts, drew a foul. But Stillwater goalkeeper Miranda Price came up with a huge save to keep the score 1-0; it'd stay that way as the two sides broke for halftime.
But just six minutes into the second half, Pitts was fouled again inside Stillwater's penalty area. This time, junior midfielder Emma Andrews was awarded the PK, and she buried it top-shelf, extending Mechanicville's advantage to 2-0.
The Red Raiders, backed by senior keeper Ava Grimmick, kept Stillwater off the board for the remaining 34 minutes of the game.
Mechanicville improves to 4-0-1, 2-0 in the Wasaren League, and will host Waterford-Halfmoon Monday night at 7:00 p.m. Stillwater falls to 5-1-1, 1-1 in-league, and hits the road Monday for a 4:30 p.m. tilt with Hoosic Valley.