The Blue Bombers defeated the Northern Adirondack Bobcats 1-0 on the Plattsburgh High School turf to claim the Section VII Class C championship.

The game’s only goal came early in the second half when Lake Placid’s Mikey Mezzetti shot the ball which hit the inner part of the crossbar. The eighth graders’ shot bounced back in front of the net. Standing in front of the net was Lake Placid’s Drew Ferebee to head the ball into the back of the net.

The eventual game-winner was all the Blue Bombers needed. The defense, along with goalkeeper John “Jack” Armstrong, stood its ground to shut out the Bobcats.

Blue Bombers head coach Stuart Hemsley credited the play of his defense as a big factor in the win. He said Alex Wright was unbelievable at sweeper. He also noted the play of Grady Draper, Sebil Cecunjanin, Tristan Spotts and Jesse Marshall on the defensive side.

Lake Placid’s Tristan Spotts, Drew Ferebee, Sebil Cecunjanin and Brady Tremblay celebrate after a goal during Thursday’s sectional final game at Plattsburgh High School. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

“We have to play a bunch of people in the back because we’re not that dangerous upfront,” Hemsley said. “If we don’t concede any goals, we don’t stand to lose by many. Tonight, when you don’t concede any, you only needed to make one.”

Lake Placid came into the game as a team that was not really a scoring threat. The team had only scored nine times all season and finished the regular season with a losing record of 4-7 — the worst in its class in Section VII.

“We weren’t supposed to win a game all season if you look at our stats,” Hemsley said. “We’ve been close in every game.”

Hemsley said the team was hungry for a win.

“We do what we are good at,” Hemsley said. “Sometimes it’s a little different if we have to rely on Neil (Jack Armstrong) making 25 saves then that’s great. We didn’t have to rely on him to make that many saves tonight.”

Lake Placid’s Jack Armstrong jumps up to make a save during Thursday’s sectional final game against Northern Adirondack. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

Armstrong, who had 27 saves in regulation and even scored the game-winning goal in a shootout against AuSable Valley during the semifinal game last Saturday, only had to make four saves against the Bobcats.

“He’ll be disappointed he didn’t have more to do,” Hemsley joked. “But every time it went into his hands that’s better than it screaming into the top corner and he’s flying across the net and tipping it over the bar.”

It didn’t matter how the Blue Bombers won, the team is sectional champions, earning the school its seventh sectional title — all of which came under the helm of Hemsley.

Hemsley, who took over the head coaching position in 2012 and won six straight championships from 2012 until 2018, said this championship is a good one.

“To be ranked third and to knock off two and to knock off one. These guys were state-ranked,” Hemsley said. “They are not bad, they’ve got some good players. My good players worked hard tonight, enough to deserve it.”

Lake Placid's Brady Tremblay runs down the field with the ball during Thursday's sectional final game against Northern Adirondack. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

Following the win, the Blue Bombers advance to regionals to face off against the soon to be determined Section X champion in Potsdam, on Wednesday at 5 p.m.