CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - On Thursday morning, Oct. 30, John Jay traveled to Rye for the Section 1 semifinals. A crushing double-overtime loss ensued, and the goal of winning the section title slipped away. However, Coach Walsh emphasized that reaching the top was never the team’s only measure of success.
“Our focus this entire season was about growing at every practice and game, and we brought our best today,” she said.
Both defenses opened strong, with few scoring chances in the early going. Eleven minutes into the first period, Finja Degl maneuvered down the left side and found space to feed Callan Keeley for a backhanded chip shot.
At 3:45, Chloe Holden made the save and smothered the rebound to deny the near miss. A minute later, she stopped Degl again on a goal-line push.
To start the second period, Rye seized the early momentum. A shot from the center forced McKenzie Ryder to extend her leg and deflect the ball out of bounds at 12:49.
John Jay soon responded with crisp passing. Degl worked down the sideline, centered to Keeley, and got the ball back before finding Logan Bueti in front. Holden, though, was ready again — making the stop at 4:46 to preserve the tie.
Rye answered with pressure of its own, earning a pair of penalty corners. Ryder came up big, kicking away one shot and absorbing a hard blast to her midsection to end the first-half excitement.
In the third quarter, John Jay controlled possession, keeping the ball deep in Rye’s zone but unable to break through.
The defensive duel continued into the fourth until Rye earned a penalty corner seven minutes in. A side-swipe attempt took flight, but Ryder made another of her 15 saves.
Holden soon matched her counterpart. Keeley weaved through defenders for a one-on-one with the goalie, and Holden turned away the chance — one of her 16 total saves.
At 4:26, Ryder made another key stop, then got some help two minutes later when Cait Brennan cleared a loose ball that had slipped under the diving keeper.
Overtime followed, and John Jay struck first with a near miss. Falling to the turf, Keeley managed to get a shot on goal, and Holden kicked the ball out to Laney Daly before stopping the follow-up attempt at 6:20.
Moments later, Rye countered, forcing Ryder to slide out to break up another dangerous chance.
John Jay kept pressing. Keeley centered a perfect pass to Degl, but Rye’s defense collapsed quickly. The Wolves earned a penalty corner at 3:25, and Keeley sent the ball left to Brennan, who connected with Kaitlyn Condon in front. Holden again stood tall, turning away multiple attempts before Rye forced a second overtime.
In the second extra period, most of the action stayed in front of Ryder, who continued to make heroic saves. But with just over two minutes remaining, a Rye shot from the left was tipped in for the game-winning goal.
Even in defeat, Walsh found reason to celebrate her team’s effort and unity.
“I’m so proud of all my athletes and the bond that was formed this season. We are only graduating four athletes, so I hope my returning players will work hard in the off-season and take advantage of the strength and skills of those returning,” she concluded.
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