NCCC’s Mikenna Valentine rifles a shot towards the net during Sunday’s match up in Saranac Lake.
(Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)
SARANAC LAKE — It was nearly two years ago that the North Country Community College women’s soccer team tied Tompkins Cortland in double overtime in a National Junior College Athletic Association Region III-B Quarterfinal matchup.
The athletes didn’t know, but it would be the last time the team would play on the Sparks Athletic Complex fields for 677 days. The college did not have sporting events last season because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Having not played a game since Oct. 29, 2019, the Saints showcased how dominant the team can still be when it defeated Central Maine Community College 6-3 on Sunday.
“They are so happy, it was a long preseason,” NCCC coach Kent Egglefield said. “They had a few regular-season games that ended up being canceled, and because they were canceled we have been here for over a month, so they were ready to play and get back here on the field.”
The Saints kicked off the game with a goal by Skyelin Bradford within the first 15 minutes of play. Bradford was a member of the Saints team in 2019.
NCCC’s Serena Stevens, of Saranac Lake makes a move to get by Central Maine’s Emily Wallingford during Sunday’s match up in Saranac Lake.
(Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)
Following the goal, Mikenna Valentine scored a pair of goals for the Saints to make the game 3-0.
The Saints’ high-powered offense didn’t slow down. Chloe Flannaghan scored two goals of her own to end the half, 5-0. Flannaghan’s first goal was assisted by Carlijn van der Smeede and Claire Fletcher, of Saranac Lake, provided the assist on the second goal.
In the second half, the Saints could not keep up with the same intensity they showed in the previous half of play, as the team allowed the Mustangs to score two straight goals in the first ten minutes.
“They played 45 minutes of the best soccer I have seen from one of my teams,” said Egglefield, who has coached women’s soccer at the school for 13 years. “Then they played 45 minutes of average soccer.”
Even with the sluggish start in the second half, Valentine scored again for NCCC earning her a hat trick en route to the victory. Central Maine scored one more goal before the final buzzer.
At left, NCCC’s Skyelin Bradford slides to try and get the ball past Central Maine Community College’s Allie Annear during Sunday’s match up in Saranac Lake.
(Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)
Egglefield said a big factor in the win was the team’s speed and passing. He said the team plays a two-touch game and doesn’t dribble often, so they can move the ball through quicker. He said everybody fills up space on the field and they work well together when they are not tired.
“The first 45 (minutes) felt great and the second 45, I think they just laid back too much and kind of lost intensity,” Egglefield said. “The first 45 showed what we can be. The second 45 showed what they can be if they don’t focus and show intensity all of the time.”
The Saints likely came out of the second half slower because the team was without many of its starters and only had fours substitutes for the entire game.
The next time NCCC will play at home is on Saturday, when the team will take on Mohawk Valley Community College.
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