POTSDAM – It’s on to the final four.

The Chateaugay girls soccer team ventured into uncharted waters at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Regional game on Saturday, going into overtime for the first time this season, followed by earning Chateaugay’s first trip to the final four.

The lady Bulldogs outlasted the Section 7 champion Elizabethtown-Lewis Lions 1-0 in double overtime to earn their berth in the state semifinal matchup at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at Tompkins-Cortland Community College. Chateaugay’s opponent has yet to be determined.

Chateaugay’s Hannah Cook, the NAC East Division’s Defensive MVP, switched gears and went on the offensive at Potsdam High School on Saturday and recorded the game’s lone goal.

Playing in the first of the two 10 minute extra sessions, Cook received a touch pass from NAC East Co-offensive MVP Alexis Beach and proceeded to race past a trio of Elizabethtown-Lewis defenders to the near post to the right of Lions’ goalie Kearsten Ashline. As Ashline made a move to come out for the ball, Cook gently sideswiped the ball, changing its direction toward the far corner of the goal, with the sphere rolling across the goal line with the CCS players erupting into a joyous celebration. The game-winning marker came with six minutes, 28 seconds remaining in the first OT session.

“We were due, we were due,” proclaimed Chateaugay Coach Steve Lang. “We had multiple chances throughout the game. We finally finished one off.”

Cook’s goal improved the lady Bulldogs to 20-0-0 for the season, ending the fall campaign for the E-L Lions with a 12-7-1 mark.

Elizabethtown-Lewis wasn’t without their chances, as starting Chateaugay goalie Makayla Fleury was also tested and had to leave the game after getting a foot to the head stopping one of the Lions’ scoring chances. The Bulldogs also had to use their back-up keeper, as Holly Zeldenrust made just one save during her three minutes in the state playoff game. The two Chateaugay goalies combined for six saves in picking up the shutout victory.

“They were a tough, gritty team,” recalled the pleased Chateaugay mentor. “We beat a championship team today and that says a lot about both teams. “It was rough going up front, the way they packed in their defense. But the girls kept working hard, doing what they do best, and kept running at them. It paid off in the long run,” added Lang.

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