Williamstown Yellowjacket girls win sectional
RAVENSWOOD — Nothing could stop Williamstown — not a 90-minute weather delay, an injury to keeper Aubrey Yaeger, or Sissonville — from winning a Class A sectional championship.
In just its fourth year as a program, the Yellowjackets girls soccer team advanced to a regional final game for the first time thanks to its 3-1 win over the Sissonville Indians Thursday at Ravenswood.
Sydney Hill contributed two goals while Ally McMullen had one for the ‘Jackets, who overcame some major changes in their lineup including in goal.
“We played a girl in goal that hadn’t played all season in goal,” said Williamstown head coach Jason Hill. “We had a freshman at stopper — we moved all kinds of things around in a very short amount of time. The kids really adapted and went with the flow.”
Williamstown expects to play Mountain State powerhouse Winfield in the Region IV final Tuesday at St. Marys.
“We’re all really overwhelmed,” said Williamstown senior Sydney Palmer. “Clearly there have been some tears shed throughout the night. It’s just a great feeling knowing that as a team we could accomplish this.”
A downpour before and during the match led to some sloppy conditions but “wasn’t anything we hadn’t played in before,” Palmer said.
Palmer assisted on McMullen’s goal in the 31st minute to break the scoreless tie.
“That definitely helped us pick up the intensity,” Palmer said. “It showed us we can do this.
“Just because we don’t have our normal places doesn’t mean you can count us out.”
Williamstown made it into halftime with the 1-0 advantage despite Sissonville creating some chances to score.
“It could’ve been a very even game at halftime,” coach Hill said. “I challenged them to score in the first three minutes (of the second half) and we scored one minute in. Game was over then.”
Sydney Hill got the ball with some space to work with, made a move around a defender and struck the ball past Sissonville keeper Olivia Montgomery, who finished with eight saves. With its defense playing well and a comfortable 2-0 lead, Williamstown could taste the championship plaque.
“They impressed their game and their experience on the other team and that’s why I think we got the result and got the victory,” said Hill, whose team improved to 14-1-6 on the year.
“We bent but we never broke. Really proud of our attack and really proud of our young players who stepped in.”
For good measure, Williamstown added a third goal with 26 minute remaining. Freshman Mara Rinehart got around the defense and had a shot lined up but instead drew a foul. Hill then knocked in the penalty kick to make it 3-0.
“We all really stepped up tonight. We came out strong and we showed that we wanted it,” added Palmer.