Hamburg girls soccer looks to overcome adversity in Section VI title defense
HAMBURG, N.Y. (BVM) — Hamburg High School is coming off its first Section VI girls soccer title in 27 years this past year. The Bulldogs’ run was special for all involved.
“It was extremely special for us, not only as a team, but even for our school,” Hamburg head coach Tom Zugger said. “It was the first time since 1992 that Hamburg girls soccer had won a sectional title and the progression had been great.
“The first year that I came back I think our team went (10-8), the second year after that, we went (13-5), then the year after that we were like (16-2). But we lost a surprising semifinal playoff game that year to Niagara-Wheatfield and got knocked out of the playoffs early.”
After progressing each year under Zugger leading into the 2019 season, the Bulldogs knew it was going to be their year. Led by star senior midfielder Laura Bogner, the Bulldogs would be a force in Class A.
“Last year we came back and we really knew that last year was our year, we had an incredibly good year,” Zugger said. “The last nine games of the year, we didn’t have a goal scored on us and that includes the playoff games. After we won the sectional title against North Tonawanda, we played Grand Island in the crossover game to go to the state tournament and it was 0-0 and we lost the shootout. We were disappointed in that, but it was a tremendously great year for us and our objective last year was to win the sectional title.”
Now fresh off their Section VI title win, the Bulldogs are looking to defend their championship. Other than graduating Bogner, the Bulldogs are relying on an experienced group. Led by a nucleus of three seniors, Abby Kane, Eve Bierl and Maddy Ingraham, the Bulldogs have leaned on the trio’s four-year varsity experience.
With the COVID-19 pandemic creating some uncertainty, the Bulldogs feel lucky to run this group out there for their final season.
“Overwhelming excitement that the girls could play,” Zugger said when talking about the uncertainty of the season. “All the thoughts we have, like repeating as sectional champions and getting to the state finals, which aren’t going to occur this year…have become less important when COVID hit. We were just hopeful that we would be able to get together as a team, in particular because of the 16 seniors that we had. It would have been very difficult as a coach and for the families if they didn’t have a season.
“When they told us that we were going to play, everybody was just overjoyed. I think our mindset has changed a little bit this year, regardless what happens in particular situations, and particular games, it’s not lost on us. We are just thrilled to be playing and to be out there together as a team and as a group everyday.”
Even with a hot start to their 2020 season, the Bulldogs have already had to face some adversity.
“We have a unique situation, Laura (Bogner) graduated at the beginning of the year, then Abby Kane, one of our senior captains this year and our top center midfielder, has been out with an ankle injury,” Zugger said. “She missed the first five/six games of the year. Now she’s back and she played against Amherst last week in our 4-1 win and she looks really good and we’re thrilled to have her back.”
Unfortunately, with the good news of Kane coming back, her injury wouldn’t be the only one that Hamburg will have to overcome as senior midfielder, Maddy Ingraham, tore her ACL.
“[Maddy Ingraham] tore her ACL against Williamsville East two weeks ago and that’s been very difficult for our team,” Zugger said. “Not from a soccer prospective because as good as Maddy Ingraham is… she is really the heart and sole of the team, she is just a super, super, girl. She’s a great leader, she will play under any circumstances with any injury and she was a dominant player in our first three games for sure, and to have her go out was very heartbreaking for her, her family, and for her teammates.”
“Maddy is the first thing on, not just my mind as the coach, but on the minds of the girls,” Zugger said when talking about Ingraham. “It’s been tough on her, this means an awful lot to her. We had senior night the other night and you could just tell, as happy as we were to celebrate our seniors, there’s an element of sadness just for Maddy.”
Although saddened by Ingraham missing out on her senior night, the Bulldogs were happy to honor a special group as they try to defend their Section VI title.
“It’s been great to have all these seniors and for me personally, to have these kids as a group for years,” Zugger said. “Most of the seniors we’ve had, have played since they were sophomores, they are high level players. To have them together through all these years has been really special and a real privilege from my perspective as a coach.”