Undefeated run for MacArthur girls soccer ends in state semifinals

CORTLAND, N.Y. — The MacArthur girls soccer team entered the state semifinals without a loss and allowing only one goal all season. Two nearly unheard of achievements considering the difficult schedule the Generals played all fall and throughout the playoffs.

And although those trends didn’t continue Saturday, the Generals will never forget their accomplishments this season. MacArthur fell to Albertus Magnus, 2-1, in the state Class A semifinals at Tompkins Cortland Community College Saturday morning.

MacArthur finished the season 14-1-2 and only allowed three goals in 17 games.

“Everybody wanted it, every single person on this team wanted it no matter where they were,” senior goalkeeper Lexie Thompson said. “I couldn’t ask for a better team and it stinks it’s over, but I’m so proud of us.”

Thompson, who had a decorated varsity tenure and will play at the University at Buffalo next year, has credited her teammates throughout the season for what the team has achieved. Especially the backline, including Ava Angiuli, Caitlin Barry, Hallie Bray and Meghan Wetzel.

“It was really cool, we had a really cool season,” said Thompson, fighting back tears. “One I will definitely never forget and I’m proud of the accomplishments we had.”

MacArthur advanced to its first state semifinal since 2011 this fall.

“We’re so proud,” senior midfielder Kaitlyn Tung said. “Yeah, it’s not the outcome we wanted but every one of us worked hard. All our hard work got us through the semifinals, counties and LIC. All that hard work got us here.”

MacArthur struck first when Sara Kealey continued fighting for a ball that appeared destined to go out of bounds. She got through a shielding defender at the left corner and sent a cross toward the net. The cross hit off the Albertus Magnus goalkeeper and Ysabelle Perillo corralled the rebound and scored off the far post to give the Generals a 1-0 lead with 17:15 left in the first half.

Albertus Magnus (22-1) quickly answered when Gabby Chan fired a shot 35 yards into the top-right corner past the diving Thompson to tie the score at 1 with 11:13 left in the first half.

Following a MacArthur turnover and a foul in the 18-yard box, Isabel DiPrima scored the winning goal on a penalty kick with 15:36 left in the second half.

“It just stinks that they scored more than us but you can’t win them all,” Tung said. “I think it’s good for us that we got here and we put all our effort out there.”

“They are great kids, it was a season for the ages,” coach Steve Costello said. “Just a great, great job by these girls.”

Costello added he was proud of the way his team played against Albertus Magnus, which is a catholic high school in Rockland County but still a member of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.

“It took a private school to beat us in the New York State Public high school championship,” Costello said. “I know where all these girls live, they all live within two miles of MacArthur High School. It’s a different animal. It’s not right, it’s not sour grapes, I’ve been saying that for years but it is what it is. We dealt with it, we played great, just a phenomenal season by the girls.”