Clippers advance to Class D semifinals

GLOVERSVILLE — The No. 5 Germantown girls varsity soccer team prevailed in the quarterfinals of the Section II Class D tournament on Monday with a come-from-behind 2-1 win against the No. 4 home seed Oppenheim-Ephratah/St Johnsville.

OESJ posted the only goal of the first half when striker Abby Johnson converted a cross from striker Ashley Engel with 18:16 remaining in the half.

Germantown knotted the score at one just under 15:05 into the second session when junior midfielder Riley Gibbons received an inside pass from junior striker Olivia Johsnon at the top of the 18 yard box, eluded two OESJ defenders and tucked a finish inside the right post past OESJ senior net-minder Ashlee Shelmandine.

With just over 18 minutes remaining in the second half Germantown scored the winning goal when junior midfielder Megan Dunn converted a Gibbons corner kick served between the penalty kick stripe and the top of the six-yard box.

OESJ outshot Germantown, 11-8.

Clippers goalkeeper Kaitlyn Stagno had 10 saves. OESJ’s Shelmandine turned away six shots.

After seeing his team out shot in the first half 8-2, Germantown coach Mike Pudney challenged his team to raise their level of play in the second half, “and to just play with the same poise and intensity they’ve played with all season long.”

The coach said he was very pleased with the second half effort and the final score.

The Clippers next play Thursday at neutral site Fonda-Fultonville in the semifinals against either CHVL rival New Lebanon or independent Saratoga Central Catholic.