Bennett, Shea McCartney named first-team all-state in girls soccer

Ithaca Journal

ITHACA — Six girls soccer players from the Ithaca area, including three from Lansing, have been named to the New York State Sportswriters and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports all-state teams. The organization announced its all-state selections today.

Three area players were first-team selections — sophomore striker Taylor Bennett from Dryden in Class B, and junior striker Shea McCartney and senior midfielder Elena Parkins from Section 4 champion Lansing in Class C.

Other all-state selections, all from Class C, included junior defender Maura McCartney from Lansing (second team), senior midfielder Lisa Nelson from Spencer-Van Etten (fourth team) and freshman midfielder Madeline Boerman from Lansing (fifth team).

Bennett scored a school-record 43 goals this season in leading the Purple Lions to a 12-4 record and a berth in the Section 4 Class B quarterfinals. Bennett scored twice in the quarterfinal against Chenango Forks, which ended in a 3-3 tie, with CF advancing on penalty kicks.

Shea McCartney, a fifth-team all-state selection last year, led the Bobcats to a No. 1 state ranking during the season and a berth in the state semifinals, where they lost to eventual state runner-up Haldane. McCartney scored seven goals in Lansing’s three sectional victories, including twice in the 5-0 shutout of Unatego in the title game.

Perkins, second-team pick Maura McCartney and fifth-teamer Boerman were key performers at both ends of the field for second-year Coach Eric Stickel’s Lansing squad, which outscored its opponents this season, 87-6. Maura McCartney scored in Lansing’s 2-0 defeat of Beaver River in the state quarterfinals at Norwich.

S-VE’s Nelson was named most valuable player of the Interscholastic Athletic Conference South Small Division, and led the Panthers to a No. 14 state ranking and a berth in the Section 4 Class C semifinals, where they lost to Lansing, 2-1. The Bobcats trailed with 16 minutes to play before rallying to eliminate the Panthers, who were co-champions of the IAC Small Schools along with Marathon.