Saints win first title
Patalano co-player of the year

"The third time is a charm," said Joanna Patalano as the Churchville-Chili Saints girl’s soccer team defeated Mercy 1-0 for their first Class A Sectional soccer championship November 4. The Saints were playing in their third final in four years and were looking for revenge having dropped a 3-1 decision to Mercy in the title game one year ago.

For the first 45 minutes of the game, the Saints didn’t spend much time in the offensive zone as Mercy put intense pressure on the net. They couldn’t convert, however, as goalkeeper Katie Voorheis made three point blank saves and watched another chance sail over the crossbar.

In the 46th minute, Karli Calabria was taken down resulting in a direct kick and the Saints started to establish some offensive pressure of their own. In the 55th minute, awarded a corner kick, the Saints Laura Bojko chipped the ball in front of the net where freshman Lizzie Zorn, playing in only her first varsity game, had it glance off her body and into the net. It was the first goal of her varsity career. "One of my goals was to get called up to varsity," said Zorn. "To score my first in a game like this is something else."

Churchville-Chili continued to pressure and frustrate the Monarchs, which resulted in three other point blank chances by Jenna Stevens in the 67th minute, and Kelly Jackson in the 75th and 76th minutes of play.

"This is the greatest feeling," said Voorheis. "They’re a good team and dominated the first half so we were trying to keep our heads up. My defenders did a great job in front of me. At halftime, we knew it had to come from deep inside and we got that extra push and adrenaline."

For head coach Nancy Thornton, it is her first title in six years at the helm. "We changed our formation a bit in the second half and the team just left everything on the field. Kimmie Hill did a great job on defense. They deserve this - this is a dream team."

Senior Joanna Patalano, in the week previous to the game, was also named co Player-of-the-Year in Monroe County Class A. "She has been the heart and soul of this team," said Thornton.