Hailey's hat trick powers Stowe girls soccer to D-III championship four-peat

SOUTH BURLINGTON - All-State player Sarah Hailey missed the first half of the season with a hamstring injury, and only returned to 100% on the eve of the playoffs.

And without Hailey, Stowe started 0-4 against Metro teams and Division II power Milton.

But the three-time reigning Division III girls soccer champions didn't panic. They took their lumps, learned from them, and found themselves on familiar ground: Playing for another title.

"We took on a monster schedule to be able to build to this point. We knew that if we pressed early on, we could figure out what our strengths and weaknesses were," Stowe coach Tyler Post said. "Playing those D-I teams, your weaknesses get highlighted super-quick. We had to figure out how to improve every day. And the girls wanted it, they were all for it."

The payoff arrived Friday night.

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The speedy and crafty Hailey, back to full strength, fashioned a brilliant hat trick, and No. 5 Stowe shut down third-seeded Windsor's high-powered offense in a 5-0 victory in the state championship game, sealing the program's fourth consecutive crown.

"It feels amazing. Ever since we won the first championship my freshman year, I just wanted to keep it going," Hailey said. "We worked really hard all season, every season, we stayed humble."

At the end of an even first half, Hailey deposited the opening goal with 1 minute, 17 seconds before the break. She gathered Charlotte Stevens' through-ball and dribbled around hard-charging Windsor goalie Sophia Rockwood (nine saves) before knocking the ball into an open net.

The nerves settled, Stowe fired out of the intermission with ball control and runs at the heart of Yellow Jackets' defense. Anna Ortiz delivered a ball down the left flank for Hailey, who sped into another gear, cut back to her right and blasted a low shot off Rockwood's hands for a 2-0 advantage with 30:17 to play.

"The first 40 minutes, we were just nervous. I think it’s pretty usual to be nervous for a state championship game," Hailey said. "We got off our game, we were kind of panicking, then we pulled it together in the second half and said, 'Let’s play our game, we know we can do this.' That’s when the goals came."

Hailey set up Stowe's third tally less than 90 seconds later. Izzy Lovell took Hailey's square pass atop the 18 and uncorked a shot into the left corner.

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With about 12 minutes to go, Ortiz raced past the Windsor back line and tucked away a technically smooth finish for a 4-0 lead. Two minutes later, Hailey polished off her hat trick, slipping a 20-yard shot inside the right post with a lefty one-timer.

Goalie Tanner Gregory (seven saves) and the Stowe (12-5-1) defense were up to the task in containing striker Audrey Rupp and Windsor (15-2-1). Rupp had 50 of Windsor's 99 goals this fall. Gregory smothered a Rupp break midway through the second half when a Windsor goal would've made it a 3-1 game.

"Our defense has been great all season. They really carried us when we struggled offensively," Hailey said. "They have such a connection back there and really know how to work together. They can handle any pressure."

Post said each of the four titles are "equally sweet for their own particular reason."

"This one was very rewarding for the seniors," Post said. "To be able to do that four years straight, to only know state finals, is pretty spectacular."

In four championship games, Hailey totaled eight goals and two assists. A year ago, she notched the overtime winner. As a freshman, she struck twice when Stowe made a surprising run to a championship as the No. 10 seed.

"It’s a full circle moment. This is what I’ve dreamed of, it’s really emotional," Hailey said.

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Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.