BY BRIAN FEESSouthern Tier Sports Report
HORSEHEADS — Up 7-4 in the fourth quarter the Corning Hawks knew they couldn’t let Ithaca get going with any transition goals.
That’s exactly what the Little Red did as they converted on three chances in just under two minutes to tie the game, before Isaac Lee-Byrnes won the game with 12 seconds left.
The Little Red then got the final face-off win by Quentin Getzin and ran out the clock.
It was the first sectional title for Ithaca since 2018.
“Give Ithaca credit, they came out, we knew we couldn’t give them transition and they scored three transition goals to tie it up,” Corning coach Chris Hogue said. “We tried to stay away from them and they were able to capitalize. 32 for them (Getzin) is a heck of a player, a great face-off kid. It’s sports. You try and you think you did the right stuff and it just didn’t fall our way.”
The three quick goals gave some momentum to Ithaca, but the big issue for Corning was they weren’t able to score after Ithaca came back.
“They definitely did (get some momentum),” Hogue said. “They scored their three, then we held them the next few possessions. We just couldn’t convert on offense.
“It’s tough, some of these kids I’ve had four years. It’s sad, it always is. This year is probably a little worse, this is my last year, I didn’t want it to end this way.”
For Hogue he put in his papers to retire in January, and it’s tough to see things come to an end like this.
“It’s tough, as I told them, sports is finicky. I thought we worked our tails off. I can’t fault our effort, or energy or intensity. It just didn’t go our way.
“It’s a journey, it’s a process. The losses, you look at it, and it’s a negative, for sure, but it’s also a chance to be out there and teach these kids things.”
For the returning Hawks players the hope is they can use this game to motivate them for next year.
“That’s what you hope, that’s what I mentioned to them,” Hogue said. “Use it for practice, use it for everything you do in the offseason so you are hungry.”
Lee-Byrnes and Reginald Browne each had three goals for Ithaca and Getzin and Lee Milton had goals.
Joe Fucito and Parker Chapel had two goals each for Corning, Clayton Smith had a goal and two assists and Kohl Hogue had a goal and an assist, while Bradyn Zimmerman finished with a goal.
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES
PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME:
