Published: October 11, 2008 04:00 am         

Hamm lifts Panthers in OT

CHERRY VALLEY _ When is one greater than 12?

Edmeston junior Kori Hamm provided the answer during a five-second span in the first overtime that produced the lone goal Friday in the Panthers' 1-0 defeat of Cherry Valley-Springfield.

The matchup of Tri-Valley League girls soccer unbeatens served as a preview for the Oct. 18 crossover final. Though East Division champion CV-S gave West Division winner Edmeston everything it wanted, and then some, the girls in black and orange had Hamm on their side.

"She's something special," Edmeston coach Melanie Mumbulo said of Hamm, who scored her 38th goal of the season with 4:23 left in the first overtime. "She has worked so hard this year to make sure every one else has been included and that makes her even more dangerous than she was last year, or even two years ago."

Contained for a large portion of Friday's game, the speedy Hamm received a short, sideways pass from Emily Slentz in the right-middle of the field, about 40 yards out. Then she went to work, using long, smooth, effortless strides to weave between three Patriots defenders. Moving to her left, Hamm drew goalie Lindsey Cairo to the left side before lining a left-footer from 15 yards into the right side of the goal.

"I knew it would be a tough game," Hamm said. "I don't think our team came as prepared as I'd hoped we'd be. They definitely gave us fight."

Heading into the season, Edmeston (17-0, 12-0) had 18 returners from last year's Tri-Valley League and Section Four Class D championship team and figured to be a heavy favorite to defend both titles.

But the Patriots (13-1, 10-1) disproved that notion Friday. They kept the ball on Edmeston's side for long spans, using physical players such as Morgan VanAlstine, Courtney VanBrink, Ksenia Hanlon, Amanda May and Fiona Doherty to keep the ball pinned in the Panthers' end.

"What do you do?" asked CV-S coach Amy Garretson, whose team will get a rematch with the Panthers at 1 p.m. Oct. 18 in the T-V final at the National Soccer Hall of Fame. "We controlled (play) for a great portion of that game. You knew it was going to come down to them giving the ball to Kori.

"My girls played great soccer and I think (Edmeston) has a lot of work to do over the next week," she continued. "I think we gave them a game they didn't think we were going to give them. I don't think they expected it."

Both teams had excellent scoring chances, most notably in the final minute of regulation.

With about 40 seconds left, Hamm was tackled by Savannah Crowley about 35 yards out. That set up a free kick for Emily Slentz, who lofted a shot that appeared destined to sneak just under the crossbar. But at the last second, Cairo leaped and tipped it. The ball hit off the bottom of the crossbar and came straight down, and Cairo secured the rebound.

CV-S went on the offensive immediately. Seconds later, Hannah Stahl found herself 1-on-1 with Edmeston goalie Susanna Johnson about 12 yards out. When the shot toward the right post left Stahl's foot, it seemed to be a sure goal. But Johnson dived and got her left hand on the ball, deflecting it just wide of the post.

"I did," Garretson said when asked if she thought Stahl's shot was going in.

"Fantastic," Mumbulo said of Johnson's save with about 15 seconds left. "She's another one who doesn't always get a lot of credit. Everyone talks about our defense, but Susanna anchors that defense."

Johnson made two other difficult saves in the second half. She charged out of the goal for a sliding save that denied a breakaway chance for Maggie Millner about five minutes into the half. Midway through the half, VanAlstine powered past two defenders on the right side of the box, but Johnson stopped her point-blank shot to the near post.

"When it was 0-0 at halftime, I told them, you're in this game," Garretson said. "(Edmeston) didn't show us anything. They looked to Kori for every single thing. We look to 20. I have a really different philosophy on that. They're worried about next week."

Edmeston's Stefanie Cornnell had two opportunities in the opening 12 minutes. She shot just wide to the far post from the right side about five minutes into play, then lofted a shot from the right wing that deflected off the far post seven minutes later.

Asked if she was concerned about CV-S winning the majority of 50-50 balls Friday, Mumbulo said: "I don't know if I need to address it. I think they already know. With this group, I don't have to address a lot. They do a great self-evaluation."

Edmeston 1, CV-S 0

Edmeston 0 0 1 0 _ 1

CV-S0 0 0 0 _ 0

Edmeston (17-0, 12-0): Kori Hamm 1-0, Emily Slentz 0-1.

CV-S (13-1, 10-1): None.

Shots-corner kicks: E 9-3; C 10-4.

Goalies: Susanna Johnson (E) 10; Lindsey Cairo (C) 4.

___

Rob Centorani can be reached at rcentorani@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 209.