BACK-TO-BACK FOR MONROE-WOODBURY GIRLS!

By Rich Thomaselli
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Updated: November 17, 2019

Crusaders Take Class AA State Title On Sorce’s Goal

CORTLAND – When you get there, and when you win it all, it becomes an overwhelming sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

Then it becomes an almost addictive acquired taste.

That’s what it was like for the Monroe-Woodbury High School girls soccer team after the Crusaders won the New York State Class AA championship last year.

“We’ve been thinking about this year ever since we stepped off the field last year,” Monroe-Woodbury goalie Angela Fini said after she pitched a shutout in the net for a 1-0 victory over Fayetteville-Manlius in the state title game at SUNY Cortland.

The win completed a 20-1 season for the Crusaders.

“They are outstanding,” Manlius coach Brent Ostrander said. “I thought we played a great game, too.”

They did, but it came down to two plays, one offensive and one defensive. Fini did her part, making a spectacular save on Manlius’ Morgan Goodman in the 50th minute.

Five minutes later, Josephine Sorce lost a defender and was able to break free, rifling a shot from 10 yards out for the game’s only goal.

Sorce had to make a quick decision on whether to shoot first and ask questions later, or to question her surroundings first and then make a decision. She chose the latter, saw how open she was, and calmly booted in the game-winner.

“It’s amazing to say that I was the one who got the goal in the back of the net,” she said. “It just feels amazing.”

It does feel that way.

Again.