By PERRY L. NOVAK
Dispatch Sports Editor
ROME – Vernon-Verona-Sherrill's field hockey team had the edge in play, but not on the scoreboard.
Judi Neff scored 6:42 into the game to out pressure on VVS and East Syracuse-Minoa went on to earn a 2-1 upset victory in the Class B semifinals at Rome Free Academy on Saturday. Rachael Aird's brilliant play in goal also helped the Spartans withstand great pressure by the No. 2 seed to earn a berth in the Section III finals for the first time in more than 30 years.
Coach Diane Dunne's Red Devils (12-4-1) outshot ES-M 10-2 with the first shot coming just seconds into the first half. Alexis Kavanaugh weaved through the defense and forced Aird to make a save. ES-M (13-5) took control for the next few minutes and had two corner plays before Neff took advantage of a failed clear to score unassisted in the seventh minute. ES-M kept control of the game until the 21st minute. That's when Kavanaugh had a great move to get open and took a shot Aird made her best save on.
VVS had more possession until late in the second half. Jenna Dunne and Allie Szczerba joined Kavanaugh in putting pressure on, but ES-M's defense, led by a few key Sara Hennessey clears, kept the 1-0 lead intact and Tiffany Evans doubled it with 11:23 to play with a shot from close range during a corner.
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