Delaney: Paladino shocked

Dominica Paladino didn't look like a coach whose Notre Dame girls soccer team just won the school's first Section III title.

 

Paladino, bundled up Saturday evening in a sharp navy blue warm-up suit, has been through a lot of big games. The first-year head coach was the New York State Class C player of the year in 2000. She was the Notre Dame and Tri Valley League record holder for goals in a season (60), most goals scored in a game (6) and career goals (135) before playing college ball at St. John's University.

 

Paladino took over for John Del Buono in late September last year and guided the Jugglers to the Class C semifinal. In defensive game at Sauquoit Valley, Waterville advanced to the final over the Jugglers after two rouns of penalty kicks.

 

Earlier this year, it didn't look like Notre Dame would get back to the semifinals let alone win the Class C tournament. The Jugglers had a tough regular season with a 6-7-1 TVL record. Once the Section III Tournament began, Notre Dame's games against bigger TVL schools paid off. Notre Dame (13-8-1) defeated top-seeded Thousand Islands in the semifinals.

 

"I'm shocked," Paladino said. "It's been a rough season. We're the 13th seed and it's been upset after upset."