Girls' soccer: Bulldogs knock 'Runners off the road

FARMINGDALE — Not many girls' soccer teams have the togetherness thing down like Hall-Dale High School this season.

That was tough news for Western Class C quarterfinal opponent Mt. Abram. The Roadrunners already were missing multiple starters due to injury and illness. And with two or three limping off the field due to various maladies on a blustery Tuesday afternoon, cohesion was the least of the survivors' concerns.

Hailey Longfellow scored two goals, assisted No. 3 Hall-Dale's other tally and had point-blank looks at perhaps a half-dozen more in a 3-0 blanking of No. 6 Mt. Abram at Simmons Field.

"Our game is just staying connected, linking passes, being in full communication together," said Longfellow, a senior tri-captain. "When we bring it, we bring it all the way."

Hall-Dale (13-1-1) fell to eventual state champion Waynflete in last year's quarterfinals. This year, the draw is more favorable — or at least more familiar — with Mountain Valley Conference rivals sharing the bracket through the first two rounds.

The Bulldogs will have a chance to avenge their lone loss of the regular season at No. 2 Georges Valley in Friday's semifinals.

"We have (eight) seniors on this team who have been to the playoffs every year, and they're looking to take the next step," said Hall-Dale coach Guy Cousins.

Longfellow threaded the needle through two Mt. Abram defenders to put the Bulldogs on the board with 18:21 remaining in the first half. Less than nine minutes later, Longfellow was confronted by a Mt. Abram back but skipped the ball left to an open Teresa Withee for a two-goal halftime lead.

Most of the second half was played in the Mt. Abram defensive zone. Jillian Withee (10 saves) denied several opportunties, and Kylie Rolbiecki broke up numerous Hall-Dale runs within 10 yards of the cage.

"She's just nails, that kid. Tough as nails," Mt. Abram coach Marc Keller said of Rolbiecki, one of seven seniors playing in her final game for the Roadrunners.

Hall-Dale feasted on its dessert with 45 seconds remaining in the game, when Longfellow cashed in a second-chance goal with help from Carylanne Wolfington.

The Bulldogs allowed only one Mt. Abram shot on goal in the second half and owned a 25-5 advantage overall.

"We stayed intense and just did what we always do, which is make good, short passes and play good defense," Wolfington said. "We didn't play (Mt. Abram) during the season, but we try to play the same game no matter what so that it doesn't matter who we're playing."

Nicole Eisenhaur also provided stellar defense for Mt. Abram (6-8-1).

Wolfington rattled the post early in the game for the Bulldogs. Longfellow launched a shot off the crossbar after intermission.

"They're the best team we've played," Keller said. "They've played together so long. They know what each other is doing. I'm pleased with our result."

Likewise, Cousins lauded the short-handed Roadrunners, who won a dozen games and reached the regional semis last season.

"They came in battling a lot of injuries. They're always competitive. They're always going hard to the ball," said the opposing coach. "Any 50-50 ball, you know you've got to go shoulder-to-shoulder with them to get possession. But this team (Hall-Dale) is on a mission. They want something and they want to work hard to get it."

koakes@sunjournal.com

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