On this day five years ago, Kelsey Wentling scored the biggest goal to that point in girls’ soccer history. With 3:12 left in the first overtime of the State Semifinals, Wentling lofted a pass over the Seton Catholic keeper to put the Bears in a position to reach the first State Championship in school history. The strong defensive core of Kierran Petersen, Lisa Harbes, Brianna Stiklickas, and Emily Carmel would hold the Saints scoreless through the second overtime period as Danielle Pappas earned yet another shutout in goal. To that point, through four playoff games, they had held their opponents completely scoreless.
Wentling’s heroics came in her last game of the season for the Bears. Instead of lacing up her cleats the next day for the State Championship, she slipped on heels for her sister’s wedding. While her teammates missed her contribution, they made sure it was a day full of celebration for her by beating #1 ranked Sauquoit Valley, 2-1, to capture the school’s first New York State title.
Kelsey Wentling put Stony Brook into its first girls’ soccer state final, but she won’t be playing in the title game Saturday morning. Instead, Wentling will be present at her sister’s wedding in Manhattan.
“Family comes first,” Wentling said after her goal with 3:12 left in the first overtime gave the Bears a 1-0 win over Seton Catholic (Sec. VII) in the Class C state semifinals Friday morning at Tompkins Cortland Community College. “I did this for my sister.”
Wentling scored her 10th goal of the season after 96 scoreless minutes. She took a pass from Michelle Hennessy down the left sideline, then dribbled the next 20 yards toward the net, where she chipped a shot over the head of Seton Catholic goalie Shannon Olsen. The goal came in the second of two 10-minute periods that comprise overtime.
“I’m frustrated I can’t do both,” Wentling said of the decision to skip Saturday’s game for the wedding. “I’m really excited for them to play.”
Stony Brook (12-5-2) will play Sauquoit Valley (III), a 1-0 winner over Frewsburg (VI), at 9:00am Saturday at SUNY Cortland. Danielle Pappas was a big reason why. She made 12 saves for her seventh shutout and third in a row.
“The whole time, I was telling myself, ‘Nothing’s going in here,’ ” Pappas said.
Just 54 seconds before Wentling’s goal, Seton Catholic’s Stephanie Egan went down with a leg injury. Three Seton Catholic players were flat on the turf, looking exhausted. On the other side of the field, the Bears huddled and looked like the more determined team.
“That was our mindset today,” Pappas said. “There was no going home.”
In addition to making saves Saturday, Pappas has another job — keeping Wentling informed during the wedding.
Said Pappas: “I’ll be texting her at halftime.”
Because rather than holding a ball on her foot Saturday, Wentling will be holding a bouquet of flowers in her hands. Fair trade-off? For Wentling, it is.
~ Chris Mascaro for Newsday
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