Souderton was edged by second-seeded Conestoga 2-1 in overtime in Saturday’s District 1 4A title game.
#1-2 CONESTOGA 2, #1-8 SOUDERTON 1 (OT)
(Submitted article by Souderton soccer)
Souderton met Conestoga in the PIAA District 1 finals on Saturday at Upper Merion High School. From the start of the match, it was clear both teams came ready to battle for the title, with both teams sharing possession and some dangerous attacking play in the opening 10 minutes of the match.
With 27 minutes left in the first half, Conestoga earned a corner kick and was able to unleash a shot on frame that was tipped off the bar by senior goalkeeper Lindsey Pazdziorko. Shortly after, Souderton earned a corner, and senior Campbell Power's cross found the head of fellow senior Sara Readinger, who powered home a finish to put the Indians up 1-0.
With the strong wind at their backs, Souderton was able to continue pressing forward to create a few decent chances through some long distance shooting. Both Power and Readinger hit a strike just over the bar as they continued to fight for control of the midfield.
With nine minutes left in the half, Conestoga earned a free kick in a dangerous position. Reese Henderson’s direct kick was hit over Souderton's wall of defenders and dropped in between the back four and goalkeeper who weren't able to clear to safety. Conestoga's striker Nia Scott was able to sneak in between them and poke home the finish to tie the match. The game was knotted at one going into the half.
The start of the second half was a mirror of the first. Both teams battled to create opportunities with Conestoga throwing the first punch by hitting the woodwork twice with 33 minutes left to play. Conestoga was able to put another effort just wide of the frame a few minutes later.
With 10 minutes to go in regulation, the Indian's found their groove and began to throw numbers forward into the attack. With eight minutes left, a well-placed free kick from Power fell to sophomore Taylor Yoder who let loose a shot destined for the corner, but Conestoga's goalkeeper Sarah Nselelmanaged to push it wide. In the remaining moments of the match, the Indians continuously threatened.
In the last minute of the match, a Conestoga defender deflected the ball with her hand just on the edge of her own penalty area to give the Indian's a free kick that resulted in a shot just wide of Conestoga's goal, which meant the final was headed to overtime.
Souderton was on the front foot again in the first overtime period. With eight minutes left, the Indians turned the ball over as they were pushing numbers forward. Souderton's defense was forced to step and stop the attack, which resulted in a long ball that found Scott, who was able to collect the ball around Souderton's penalty area and took a positive touch to create the space for a perfectly placed finish into the far post to end the match.
Proud of the team and feel a bit unlucky not to get the win. The girls really rose to the occasion today and I feel we had the better of the chances throughout the match. Looking forward to starting our campaign in the state playoffs on Tuesday night!
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Conestoga came into Saturday’s District 1 4A title game with the big reputation, the favorite – according to some – to capture the district crown. Souderton, on the other hand, was an upstart team just five years removed from a four-win season. For those who thought the Indians would be intimidated in their first trip to the big stage, guess again.
They not only stood tall but had the better of play for a good portion of the game.
“We just came out – we weren’t afraid, we were confident and we worked hard,” coach Lindsy Jones said. “I think everybody gave 100 percent.
“I told them after the game – ‘There’s nothing more a coach could ask for than having everyone give 100 percent,’ and they did exactly that.”
“I think everybody just stepped up in their position,” senior captain Sara Readinger said. “Everyone was really excited to play coming into this game. Being in a district championship, everyone’s emotions were in it, and everyone was just playing for each other.
“We’ve been playing as a family we’ve been saying all year, and I think this game unified us even more.”
The ending came quickly and with no warning when – with 8:29 remaining in the first overtime – Conestoga striker Nia Smith turned a long ball from midfield into the golden goal, sending a highlight reel shot into the far corner of the net.
“I told them I’d rather lose on a goal like that than on some dinky goal,” Jones said. “If we had been shooting like that all game, it would have been a different story, but we weren’t shooting like that all game.”
In regulation, the two teams exchanged first-half goals with the Indians taking a 1-0 lead with 24:55 remaining in the half when Readinger turned a Campbell Power cross into a goal. Fifteen minutes later, Scott scored the equalizer off a Reese Henderson free kick. That tie stood until Scott’s game-winner that handed the Indians their first loss since falling to Central Bucks South on Oct. 4.
Heading into Saturday district title game, the Indians were 7-0-2 since their South loss after a 6-2-4 start. What changed?
“Just our intensity and our excitement to go into this,” Readinger said. “In the beginning of the season, we weren’t as working together or finding feet as much. We’ve been able to string passes together and all move up as a team. We weren’t doing as much in the beginning of the year, and now we found our game. We can all come out with the same intensity and match it with the other team.”
Jones lauded the effort of her defensive unit – comprised of Miranda Kullman, Kailee Harwick, Darby Kramer, Peyton Carroll and Gianna Natale – against a highly skilled Pioneer squad.
“It starts with our defense,” the Indians’ coach said. “They were communicating well, they knew the players they had to watch. They did their best to shut them down.
“I thought they did really well, even winning and delivering great balls out. They didn’t just boot it away. They were very composed and organized.”
The Indians’ coach also credited the play of her keeper, Lindsey Pazdziorko.
“Lindsey had four clutch saves today that could have been the end of the game right there,” Jones said. “She saved us.
“I hope they turn the frustration of this into success on the field on Tuesday.”
“I don’t think this loss is going to damper us in any way,” Readinger said. “I think we’re going to be just as excited to come into states and even more confident because I think we had a really good chance of beating this team.
“Nobody can get down on each other. I think that’s the biggest thing – it’s not anyone’s fault, everyone was working as hard as they could. It just happened to not be the result we wanted, but we still have games we have to play. This game is in the past.”
Souderton (13-3-6, 5-2-5 SOL) will face District 11 runner-up Easton in an opening round PIAA 4A game on Tuesday.
Conestoga 1-0-1 2
Souderton 1-0-0 1
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