Pennridge defended a District One 4A title it owned with a 2-0 win over Spring-Ford. Photos provided courtesy of Tracy Valko. Check back for a gallery of photos.
#3 PENNRIDGE 2, #5 SPRING-FORD 0
It was easy to watch Pennridge’s first half of Thursday’s District One 4A title game and recognize it was already one of the Rams’ best efforts of the season.
In the second half, they found a way to raise their level even more.
Circumstances demanded it certainly with Spring-Ford, which also goes by the Rams, bringing every bit as much fight to Helman Field in a win-or-the season ends match, but there was also a point to be made.
“Props to them, they’re the best team we’ve played and they played a great game,” Pennridge junior Riley Hepler said. “Everyone on the field was really good for them but it was just effort for us, honestly. We did not want to lose on our turf and this was a must-win game to get to our goal of a state championship.”
The only regret Pennridge coach Audrey Anderson had after last year’s district championship was that her team didn’t take the time to celebrate it. While her players have been zeroed in on a state title all fall, Anderson was happy to see them take a moment to revel in their accomplishment after Thursday’s win.
“We said whatever happens, just enjoy the moment because it’s so hard to get to this point,” Anderson said. “The chance to do it two years in a row? They just had to enjoy every moment on the field. We didn’t want to be disrespectful, but the emotions got to the girls and they worked so hard for it.”
The jubilation postgame hardly mirrored the high-tempo clash that had been waged on the pitch at Helman Field just beforehand. No sooner had the district been finalized than a potential clash between the power programs looked possible in the final.
Spring-Ford had simply grinded its way to the title game, winning three straight contests by 1-0 scores behind a superb defense led by Wisconsin recruit junior Olivia Curry.
Pennridge on the other hand had battered opponents down, scoring 12 goals in three postseason games with wave after wave of pressure eventually cracking even the most stout of defenses. If the Rams wanted to replicate their title win of a year ago, that would have to be the difference.
“I’m not going to lie, we were all really excited for this team,” senior Lindsey DeHaven said. “We knew what they had coming and what we had in store for this game. They are a great team having made it this far and have a lot of fantastic players so we knew we had to play our best game.”
While Spring-Ford’s defense is top-notch, so is Pennridge’s defensive unit. Once again, multiple Pennridge players swarmed to the ball at every touch from Spring-Ford and the hosts brought pressure the entire length of the field.
The back line of Casey Malone, Cady McKean, Anna Croyle and Kera Dam gave up few chances while junior keeper Sierra Shaeffer played a terrific game with four pivotal saves. McKean, a senior, chalked up the unit’s success to a shared mindset of playing toward the same goal.
“We knew they had a really good midfield, so we looked to take away the gaps and just pressure right away,” McKean said. “Their forwards were fast as well, so that high press was really important for us to keep them from getting shots.”
After having a few chances turned away by Spring-Ford keeper Riley Wallace, Pennridge’s pressure yielded a prime opportunity. A win at the back allowed Jess Levush to play the ball forward, where a flick by Sophie Craig left a tantalizing prospect for Hepler.
Running in stride, the junior blasted a one-timer with her right foot that bent through the air into the back corner.
“I saw the goal, so I was just going to take a one-touch shot,” said Hepler, who scored for the second straight game. “I’m always looking for the corner – the top 90 or bottom 90 – when I shoot, but I’d say it was the luck of where it came to me from and I was able to get my foot on it.”
A determined run by Spring-Ford’s Ally McVey nearly spelled trouble for Pennridge, but the S-F forward buried her take into the outside netting early in the second half. If there was any doubt left in Pennridge, that scare cast it out and the hosts found an even higher gear.
Freshman Tori Angelo led the charge with an unrelenting effort, pursuing the ball both in a pressuring role and looking for chances. One of her runs led to a throw-in deep down the line about 10 minutes into the second half that would prove most fruitful.
Dam’s toss into play allowed DeHaven and Hepler to keep it alive across the box, where freshman Liv Grenda settled the ball, drew in three
defenders and calmly left a pass out for Leah Malone to one-touch crush into the back of the net.
“The thing we enjoy most about how we play is the tempo that we play at,” Anderson said. “For us to play as high a tempo for as long as we do says a lot about the composure and desire to win of this group.”
Spring-Ford never gave up on the game and Shaeffer had to make a couple critical saves after her squad took its 2-0 lead. The junior made a diving stop on a flicked header by Emily Higgins right in front of goal and with about nine minutes left, pushed a hard shot off the post with Spring-Ford blasting the rebound over the bar.
Pennridge has conceded just two goals in the postseason but pitched shuouts in the last two games.
“I have to give a lot of credit to Sierra, she really, really showed up tonight,” DeHaven said. “She was amazing to watch the way she came out and saved what should have been goals. Those were great shots, great opportunities and she stepped up.”
While every player for Pennridge contributed positive energy in the win, McKean gave special credit to the forwards for the amount of pressure they generated throughout. When the opposing team has to fight the entire length of the field to build and maintain possession, it makes things that much easier for the backs to finish the job and get the ball going back the other way.
“We all realized we can’t play 45 minutes of soccer, we need to play 80 minutes,” Hepler said. “Our team – we put our heads down and worked hard and that’s what got us the win today.”
The Rams will face either Parkland, the District 11 champion, or District 4 champion Williamsport in the PIAA semifinals on Tuesday. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the District I champion will host that game, meaning Pennridge gets one more game on its field.
“Aud told us in the locker room at halftime just to put our foot on the gas and don’t let go,” McKean said. “We’re just going to go with that momentum and we feel like we worked so hard, we’re so close to our goal, we just want to get there so badly.”
PENNRIDGE 1 1 – 2
SPRING-FORD 0 0 – 0
Goals: P – Riley Hepler, Leah Malone
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