Neshaminy will face Norwin in the PIAA Class 4A state title game on Friday at HersheyPark Stadium at 4 p.m. Check back for a game story and photos.
Winning a state title was on the wish list of quite a few soccer teams around the state. Parkland – undefeated and the state’s top-ranked team, District 3 powers Conestoga Valley, Manheim Township and Cumberland Valley, District 7 powerhouse Norwin and, closer to home, District One champion Pennsbury all had state title aspirations heading into the postseason.
All of those teams are home with the exception of Norwin, which will face a Neshaminy squad in the PIAA 4A title game that was never part of the conversation.
Until now.
The Redskins’ magic carpet ride through the postseason has surprised even the players.
“(Hershey) never really did come up,” senior captain Nicole Palmer said. “We barely made playoffs. We had to pull it out at the end of the season to get back in it.
“Going into districts, we were a little shaky in the beginning, but we pulled together as a team and realized – hey, we can do this.”
Four years ago, it was another story entirely when a Megan Schafer-led Neshaminy team capped a perfect season with a state title. Anything less would have been disappointing.
“Perfect season, undefeated, league champs, district champs, state champs,” said coach Chelsea Lovelace, who was an assistant coach of that historic 2013 run to a PIAA title.
There was no league championship for this year’s squad, and a third place finish in districts was impressive for Redskin team that was seeded 12th entering the District One 5A Tournament.
“Hershey was never in the picture for us during our regular season,” senior captain Genna Obringer said. “We started off really rough, losing games that we shouldn’t have lost, tying games that we shouldn’t have tied and beating teams by a thread.
“Council Rock North the second time we played them – everything clicked. Girls started realizing, ‘Hey, we need this to get in the playoffs.’ We got into districts. Losing in the district semifinals (to Spring-Ford) was rough, but we knew we still had states. Making it to the state final is huge for us.”
The Redskins’ 2-0 win over Council Rock North on Oct. 12 was the springboard to a strong finish that saw the team win 12 of their last 13 games. The only blemish on their record in that span was 1-0 loss to Spring-Ford in the district semifinals.
“Honestly, at the beginning of the season, especially after we lost our first game bad (4-0 to Unionville), I don’t think we had as high expectations, but once we won that North game, we knew we had potential and we could get to the final, which is where we’re going,” senior captain Jackie Ziegler said. “We had a little rough start to the season (before we) got our formation right, got our intensity up.
“Last year, we had two center mid seniors and also we had Maggie Daeche at center back, so we were trying different formations to see who would be good in the center. We played with the formation we’re in now for a couple of games, and in the North game it finally showed it had potential.”
Daeche stepped out of Neshaminy’s lineup and into Drexel’s lineup, playing in all 19 games and starting 11. Hers were huge shoes to fill.
“Losing (Daeche) as a player but also as a leader – just picking up where we left off, it doesn’t always fall on one person,” Lovelace said. “It’s more of a team role you have to fall into, and losing her was a huge loss, but you have to adjust.
“You can’t just rely on one person to do all the leading and all the setting the tone on the field. Our theme of the second half of the season is it’s a full 80 minutes, everybody is pulling the rope, nobody is slacking off.”
And because everybody is pulling the rope, a team with decidedly modest expectations is playing for the biggest prize – a state crown.
“We really didn’t think this would happen,” junior goalkeeper Riley Spingler said. “We all just took it one game at a time, and the games add up.
“Now we’re here, and now we’re going to Hershey.”
#1-3 NESHAMINY vs. 7-2 NORWIN (Friday, 4 p.m., HersheyPark Stadium
Neshaminy
- 19-6-1 overall
- 8-3-1 SOL National, third place
- 12 Seed in the District One 4A Tournament
- 12 shutouts this season
- Goalkeeper Riley Spingler backs up a tough defense headed by Nicole Palmer, Genna Obringer, Hannah Stonkus and Alex Ziegler.
- Service specialist Jackie Ziegler leads a midfield unit capable of spreading the ball around, setting up chances and chipping in goals when needed. Michaela Boyd, Brianna Tobin, Emily Tantala and Gina Sexton also see plenty of time in midfield.
- Brooke Mullin and Kristin Curley provide the punch up top, and both can beat defenses in more than one way.
How they got here: In Tuesday’s state semifinal, Neshaminy defeated Owen J. Roberts, the fourth place team from District One, 2-1. Genna Obringer headed a Jackie Ziegler corner into the net for a 1-0 lead, and after the Wildcats tied it, Brooke Mullin scored with 23 seconds remaining in the half. Her goal turned out to be the game winner.
In the quarterfinal round, Neshaminy defeated District 3 runner-up Governor Mifflin 2-1. The Redskins opened up a 2-0 halftime lead with Gina Sexton (Jackie Ziegler assist) and Brooke Mullin each contributing a goal. The Mustangs cut that lead in half, connecting on a corner early in the second half, but they would get no closer.
In an opening round game, Neshaminy stunned the state’s top-ranked team, District 11 champion Parkland, 2-1. Kristin Curley and Nicole Palmer each scored a goal. Jackie Ziegler assisted on both. Parkland scored nine minutes into the second half, but the Redskins’ back four – Palmer, Hannah Stonkus, Genna Obringer and Alex Ziegler – as well as goalie Riley Spingler once again stood tall.
Norwin
- 20-2-1 overall
- 8-1-1 WPIAL Section 4 second place behind Penn-Trafford
- Lost to Penn-Trafford 2-1 in overtime in District 7 4A title game
- Won last PIAA 3A title in 1996, state runner-up in 1997
- 14 shutouts this season
- Led by the program’s all-time goals leader Emily Harrigan, a Rutgers commit who will play for the East in the All-America Games on Dec. 2 in Orlando, Fla.
- Goalkeeper Sam Wexell, a Ohio University commit, has 52 career shutouts (ranked seventh in state history)
- Nine players committed to play collegiate soccer, six at the Division One level
- Outscored opponents 10-0 in three PIAA 4A games
- Entered the season ranked second nationally by Top Drawer Soccer
How they got here: In Tuesday’s semifinal, Norwin defeated District 3 champion Conestoga Valley 2-0. Alyssa Victor converted a penalty kick in the 16th minute, and in the 51st minute Katy Ericson (Lacey Bernick assist) added a goal.
In a quarterfinal game, Norwin defeated North Allegheny, the third place team from District 7, 4-0. Emily Harrigan had a pair of goals, and Katy Ericson and Alyssa Victor each had one goal.
In an opening round state game, Norwin earned a 4-0 win over District 6 champion State College. The Knights received single goals from Eva Frankovic, Lexy Kendro, Emily Harrigan and Lexi Gray.
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