The Ausable Valley Patriots are crowned the 2026 NYSPHSAA Section VII Class B Girls' Soccer champions with their penalty-kick win. BEEKMANTOWN, N.Y. — After battling through 110 minutes of intense championship soccer and a tense penalty kick shootout, the top-seeded Ausable Valley Patriots claimed the NYSPHSAA Section VII Class B Girls' Soccer Championship with a dramatic victory over the second-seeded Northeastern Clinton Cougars on Wednesday night at Beekmantown Central School. With a few hundred fans lining the sidelines and a light mist settling over the field during the second half, the two rivals delivered a championship match worthy of the occasion before Ausable Valley prevailed 3-1 in penalty kicks to secure the sectional title. The Patriots struck quickly, taking the lead just four minutes into the match when Elin Post finished a scoring opportunity created by Renne Bruno to make it 1-0. Ausable Valley doubled its advantage in the 17th minute as Nora Rogers found the back of the net off an assist from Anna Bailey, giving the Patriots a commanding 2-0 lead. Northeastern Clinton responded before halftime and gained momentum when Carley Anctil scored in the 30th minute on an assist from Anna Raccine, cutting the deficit to 2-1 heading into the break. The Cougars continued to press in the second half and were rewarded in the 60th minute when Lexi Arno scored the equalizer, knotting the match at 2-2 and setting the stage for a dramatic finish. Neither team could find a breakthrough over the remainder of regulation or during two overtime periods, despite several quality chances. The championship would ultimately be decided from the penalty spot. In the shootout, Ausable Valley held its nerve. The Patriots converted key attempts and secured a 3-1 advantage in penalties during the fourth round, sparking a championship celebration as players rushed onto the field. Northeastern Clinton controlled much of the offensive action, finishing with a 13-7 edge in shots on goal. Cougars goalkeeper Peyton Scott recorded five saves, while Patriots goalkeeper Lula Pfendler turned in a standout championship performance with 11 saves, repeatedly denying Northeastern Clinton opportunities and helping keep her team alive until the shootout. With the sectional championship victory, Ausable Valley advances to the NYSPHSAA Class B Tournament and will await the winner of the Section II championship. For the Patriots, the title marks the culmination of a determined postseason run and sends them into the state tournament with confidence and momentum. For Northeastern Clinton, the season ends heartbreakingly close to a sectional crown after a spirited championship effort that required 110 minutes and penalty kicks to decide.Gallery

Ausable Valley's Julia Bailey (8) splits Plattsburgh's Jordyn Gilbert (5) and Julia Hertel (6) at midfield and starts the Patriot attack. PLATTSBURGH — The AuSable Valley Patriots built a two-goal first-half lead, then survived a late Plattsburgh comeback attempt to earn a 2-1 win over the Hornets in Champlain Valley Athletic Conference girls soccer action on October 8. The Patriots entered the contest with a 5-6-1 record and quickly took control. AuSable Valley pressured the defense throughout the first half and converted twice, taking a 2-0 lead into intermission. Plattsburgh, which came into the match with a 1-8 record, showed more energy after halftime and began creating opportunities in the attacking third. The Hornets kept pushing as the second half progressed, looking for a breakthrough goal to spark a comeback. That moment came in the 74th minute when Charlotte Boule found the back of the net for Plattsburgh, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and giving the home crowd hope. The goal shifted momentum toward the Hornets, who pressed for the equalizer during the final minutes of regulation. Despite the late pressure, the Patriots' defense held firm and protected the one-goal advantage through the final whistle to secure the road victory. With the win, AuSable Valley improves its position heading into its next matchup against Chateaugay. Plattsburgh will look to bounce back when it returns to action on October 14 against Saranac. The victory showed the Patriots' ability to capitalize on early scoring chances. In contrast, the Hornets showed resilience by battling back and making things interesting late in the match before ultimately falling short. Gallery

Plattsburgh's Amara Gorham (15) blocked the net on the Ausable Valley striker (9) for the Hornet point. PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — The Plattsburgh Hornets remained unbeaten on the season Thursday night, rallying from an early setback to earn a 3-1 victory over the Ausable Valley Patriots in Champlain Valley Athletic Conference girls volleyball action. The Patriots entered the match at 1-2 and were determined to hand the Hornets their first loss of the season. Ausable Valley came out strong in a tightly contested opening set that featured several lead changes. Late in the set, the Patriots appeared to take control, building a 23-18 advantage. Plattsburgh refused to go away, however, mounting a comeback to tie the score and force extra points. Despite the Hornets' rally, the Patriots held on for a dramatic 27-25 victory and took a 1-0 lead in the match. After dropping the opening set, Plattsburgh responded convincingly. The Hornets came out energized in the second set and quickly established control behind strong serving and consistent play on both sides of the net. Plattsburgh cruised to a 25-14 victory to even the match at one set apiece. The Hornets kept the momentum in the third set. Ausable Valley struggled to slow down the Plattsburgh attack as the Hornets dominated from start to finish, pulling away for a commanding 25-10 win and a 2-1 lead in the match. Facing elimination, the Patriots looked to extend the contest in the fourth set, but the Hornets continued their strong play. Plattsburgh maintained the pressure throughout the set and closed out the match with a 25-15 victory, securing the 3-1 win in just over 90 minutes. With the victory, Plattsburgh improved to 4-0 on the season and will return to the court on Sept. 22 against the Northern Adirondack Bobcats. Ausable Valley dropped to 2-2 and will travel to Saranac on Sept. 21, looking to move back above .500. Gallery