Isabelle LaBarbera matched a career-high with five goals in leading Red Hook to a 5-1 win over Wallkill in the Mid-Hudson Athletic League semifinals at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School in Hyde Park on Monday.
LaBarbera notched a hat trick in the first half, scoring her third goal a penalty kick in the 35th minute.
“She deserves every bit of this,” Red Hook coach Jason Pavlich said of the midfielder. “She had 19 goals last year, and she really hit the weight room and improved her skills. She has worked extremely hard and she’s reaping the dividends.”
The senior has 41 goals this season and, last Thursday, broke the single-season program record, surpassing the total of 34 that Marin McDermott set in 2007.
“She’s a hard player to stop,” Pavlich said. “I don’t think there’s a coach in the area who wouldn’t want her on their team. We have other excellent players and we have to be careful to be too reliant on Isabelle. But this was her time to shine.”
Alexa Franceschi had two assists, Claire Dyal added an assist, and Megan Jankowiak made four saves for the Raiders (15-0). Rhinebeck, which edged Spackenkill in the other semifinal, faces Red Hook in the final at 5 p.m. Thursday.
The Raiders have won have won the title seven times, but this will be their first trip to the final since 2012. They had fallen to Wallkill the previous two years in the semifinals.
“We’ve had heartbreaking losses to Wallkill, so it’s been a long time coming for this team,” Pavlich said. “Our girls were determined to get it done.”
Stephanie Cassens scored unassisted in the 26th minute and the Rhinebeck girls soccer team made it hold in a 1 -0 win over Spackenkill, advancing to the MHAL final for the first time in program history.
“It’s a big confidence boost for us, but we know it’s only going to get harder from here,” Rhinebeck coach Matt Grande said. “The road to sectionals is always hard.”
Dani Amidon had eight saves for the Hawks (13-1), whose loss this season came against Spackenkill two weeks ago. The Spartans were the two-time defending MHAL champions, and also had beaten Rhinebeck in the Section 9 Class B final last year.
“Our center backs Caroline Voorhis and Alex Dunn led the defense and kept pushing the ball out,” Grande said. “Spackenkill dominated possession most of the way, but we just found a way to score.”
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4826, Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
Soccerball