The Unadilla Valley Girls Soccer team played in the MAC Championship game against Unatego for the second straight year. The Lady Storm fell to the Spartans by a final of 3-0 but the season is not over as Sectionals begin Friday. (Submitted Photo)

ONEONTA – For the second straight year, the Unadilla Valley Lady Storm met the Spartans of Unatego in the Midstate Athletic Conference (MAC) Championship, a game held at the Wright National Soccer Campus in Oneonta Saturday morning. 

After three first-half goals by Spartans, Unatego claimed their second straight MAC trophy as the opening minutes of play proved to be the difference in the contest.

“Unatego is an excellent team with good passing and communication,” said Storm’s head coach Jeanine Potter. “They always seem to find a way to get themselves open for the shot.”

Unatego’s Dana Stepp scored the second and third goals her team and added an assist to have a part in all three balls netted in the 3-0 victory.

The Spartans struck first when Kylie Mussaw took the pass from Stepp and chipped a shot off the crossbar. The ball deflected off the top post and went into the net just over 16 minutes into the contest.

Stepp then added the second Unatego goal with 21:30 left in the first after fielding a Hali Lucia cross and sending the ball into the lower left corner, passed a diving Meegan White – the Storm’s keeper – for the two-goal advantage.

The Lucia-Stepp connection happened once again with less than five minutes to go as Lucia delivered up a pass to the middle of the Spartans offensive third. Stepp settled, turned and rifled the ball off the post and in to give Unatego a 3-0 lead.