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RYE, N.Y. -- All Rye needed was one penalty corner to show it was focused on Nyack, Friday.
Tori Virtue scored on the Garnets first corner of the game, sending the top seed on to a 4-0 victory over fourth-seeded Nyack in a Section 1 Class B Field Hockey Championship semifinal.
The Garnets will play second-seeded, and two-time defending champion, Lakeland in the final Sunday at 3 p.m. at Arlington High School in Dutchess County. This will be the third consecutive year the teams have played for the title.
Alex Bennett scored twice and Annie Van Wagenen also had a goal in the win. Virtues goal, 5:20 into the game, came off of a rebound from a Van Wagenen shot.
"That kind of set the tone for the rest of the game, said Van Wagenen of Virtues goal.
We always want to try and score in the first five minutes of a game. And when we do, the next five minutes we seem to have even more energy.
Rye maintained its high energy level throughout the remainder of the first half. The Garnets were quicker to the ball and passing crisply.
Bennett would double Ryes lead with 7:42 remaining in the first half. The score came on Ryes third penalty corner of the half. The insert pass cleared the circle, but Bennett regained control, stick-handled into position and unleashed a shot that found its way through a maze of players and into the back of the net.
Van Wagenen capped the scoring in the first half, ripping a shot home in expired time. A penalty corner was awarded to Rye in the last few seconds of the half and was played out.
The Garnets led 3-0 at halftime and did not let up in the second half.
Our coach always tell us we should never look past any opponent or game so it has been ingrained in us, Van Wagenen said. We knew the only way to get to the sectional final was if we won this game.
Its a great feeling to know that we are going back to the final. It is something we have worked hard for all season.
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