The team poses for a picture following the Section IV Class C Championship game. Now, they will return to Vestal Saturday morning at 11 a.m. in hopes of a New York State Championship berth. (Submitted photo)

GREENE – It has been seven years since the last time the Lady Trojans Field Hockey team was in a New York State Regional championship game.

For the last five years, the Whitney Point Eagles have represented Section IV at the New York State Championships and before their dynasty started, there wasn’t a team from the section at the final four – a rare occurrence in the field hockey world.

Drawing the Eagles in the first round of the Section IV Class C tournament this season, Greene immediately started off their playoff journey with a test. Meeting two times prior to the win-or-go home matchup, Whitney Point topped the Trojans in both games.

However, Greene head coach Christine Battaglini felt her team was a different group by the third meeting between the two Class C powerhouse programs.

“It was after the first 1-0 loss to Maine-Endwell, the game where they defeated us in the closing seconds that has really been our turning point for the season,” said the head coach. “It was after that game that I said to myself, ‘wow, that game really looked like we are starting to turn the corner.’”

Following the loss, the Trojans had a 4-6 record, falling below a .500 record in one of the few, if any, times Battaglini took over as head coach of the program.