Reimer's Third Career Hat Trick Leads Generals Past Raiders

JOHNSTOWN -- The Generals (2-1) took a short trip down the thruway on Saturday afternoon for a game against Fulton Montgomery. Despite traveling, the support from the Herkimer fanbase made it feel more like a home game for the girls. A few hundred fans in Herkimer shirts littered the stands and made noise for the ladies all day. 

The girls didn't let the traveling support down, defeating Fulton-Montgomery 8-0 at Gloversville High School on Saturday afternoon. The win marked its first of the season in the Mountain Valley Conference.

HOW IT HAPPENED

In the first ten minutes, a well worked corner kick routine saw Lydia Reimer fire a shot from just inside the penalty box across the goal and into the far corner to make it 1-0. Olivia Friend, who for the time being swapped her softball bat and hitting dingers for soccer cleats and scoring goals, quickly broke through the FM defense and expertly swept the ball past the goalie to give the Generals 2-0 lead. 

One of this years emerging stars, Kadence York, soon got in on the action, with great passing from Sarah Davis, Liz Cingranelli and Kimora Brown, York found herself on the right wing, driving inside to the end of the penalty box and unleashing a well placed shot inside the near post. York has definitely hit harder shots, and although coach Neish could be heard screaming at her to go across goal, York's precision shot gave the goalie no chance.

With a little over 5 minutes to go in the half, Liz Cingranelli, last years second-highest scorer, got sick of seeing everyone else score and rocketed a free kick from 30 yards high into the net via the goalies hands. The power of the shot took it through the goalies attempts at a save to give Liz her first of the game. 

The second half started well for the Generals, with Dakota Quick, Sarah Davis and Lydia linking up well in midfield, whilst Ryleigh Hart and Donata Hofsdal kept things secure in defense. 

Reimer was on a goal-scoring mission, and soon after the restart found herself running at the FM defense, linking up well with players around her and fired in her second, and the teams fifth. Another corner kick for the Generals and another well worked play meant Liz Cingranelli got her second, much deserved for all her hard work during the game. She snuck between two FM defenders and got into the box before nipping a low shot past the goalie. 

Olivia Friend was not to be outdone by Cingranelli and Reimer, she would also get her second of the game a few minutes later, muscling her way between defenders and forcing a firecracker of a shot past the goalie to secure a 7-0 lead.

Cingranelli and Friend both had a couple more opportunities for the hat trick, as well as some great skills from Lazzara and Kimora Brown, but ultimately it was Lydia Reimer in the right place at the right time, as a nicely worked move finished with a shot cannoning off the crossbar, Lydia was on hand to tap into an empty net to compete her hat trick and give the Generals the final 8-0 victory.

QUOTES

"The girls are developing and working hard every single day," said Womens Soccer Head Coach Damon Neish. "It was tough having two weeks off, but it meant we got to work on a lot of the things we needed to work on at practice. You could see today we were much more organized defensively, we were creative going forward and our all round play is much more fluid than a month ago. We play what I think will be our toughest game of the year in Wednesday against OCC, they have a great squad and I can't wait to test our girls against the best!"

FUN FACTS

Reimer's hat trick was the third of her career and the second on the season. She joins former General Kayla Suppa with three career hat tricks.

UP NEXT

The Generals look to continue its winning ways in mid-week road matchup, Thursday at 4:00 PM against the Onondaga CC Lazers. The Generals have won nine straight contests against the Lazers dating back to 2013.