CR North fell to Downingtown East in Friday’s District One AAA third place game at North Penn High School.
#5 DOWNINGTOWN EAST 2, #6 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 1
The Cougars rebounded from their setback in Wednesday’s district semifinal to top-seeded Unionville to defeat the Indians in a battle for seeding entering next week’s state tournament. Downingtown East took a 1-0 lead late in the opening half and went on top 2-0 just over 10 minutes into the second half, twice connecting during corner play.
“They were good,” Rock North coach Heather Whalin said. “Their number four (Claire Webb) is fantastic. She’s down on offense, and then I turn around, and she’s all the way back on defense.
“I knew they were going to be strong. I knew they beat Downingtown West, which was the only team to beat Unionville. They distributed the ball well, and their first corner was beautiful that they scored on. It was the same corner (Central Bucks) South scored on us. It was really nice.”
The Indians broke up the Cougars’ shutout bid with a goal by Devon Mela with 11:48 remaining in regulation.
“I told them, ‘This game is just to place us,’” Whalin said. “It doesn’t really mean anything.
“I was really pleased with the way we played in the last 20 minutes of this game. They looked really good. We came out strong and then had a lull in the middle. I was proud they put a goal in the cage. We’ve only been shut out once, and that was by (Central Bucks) South. I told them if played that way the entire game, it would have been a different story.”
On Tuesday, the Indians will hit the road for an opening round state tournament game against the District 2 champion.
Council Rock North 0-1 1
Downingtown East 1-1 2
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