Central Bucks West fell to Downingtown West 2-1 in double overtime in a District 1 3A semifinal on Wednesday. File photo courtesy of Tracy Valko: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f1049091362
District 1 3A semifinal
#2 DOWNINGTOWN WEST 2, #3 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1 (2 OT)
This was one of those special games that neither team deserved to lose, and perhaps neither did.
Yes, the Bucks came out on the short end of a 2-1 score when Providence commit Piper Cline scored on the rebound of a Kendra Pitts save with 2:36 remaining in the second overtime, but it didn’t feel the way losses typically do.
“We came out here, and we played an awesome game,” senior captain Lily Cosner said. “Double overtime – I think it was on our (offensive) side the majority of the game.
“Honestly, I think we played better than we thought we would. We played amazing. We can’t really be sad about a good game. Props to them – they had a good ending goal.”
Coach Lori Ierubino also was smiling after this one.
“That was an awesome game, it really was,” the Bucks’ coach said. “They won, but we played through two overtimes, scored first and held the lead, we had goal line saves. The passing was great tonight, and I’m proud of every line. It was the team tonight.
“It was high energy, high excitement, such skill from both sides. Unfortunately, there has to be a loser, but I don’t feel like we did. And we have at least two more games left.”
The Bucks had the better of play in overtime and spent almost the entire first OT in the Whippets’ defensive end, but the Whippets’ defense and senior goalie Kaiya Chepow, a Duke University commit, stood tall.
Chepow had several big saves in overtime, and twice during regulation came up with sliding tackles at the top of the circle to thwart CB West breakaways.
“She’s good,” Cosner said. “I definitely think that we just kind of fell into her trap. It was 2-on-1 sometimes, and we just gave it right to her.”
Pitts also came up big for the Bucks, surviving a frantic sequence in the first half with back-to-back saves.
Not to be overlooked was the standout effort of the Bucks’ defense that spent the game disrupting the Whippets attempts to generate any kind of cohesive attack.
“They really wanted us to jump on them, and we just held our positions, and we didn’t let them break us,” Cosner said. “They got a corner, and they got a goal, but there’s nothing you can do with a corner.”
Play in regulation was equally fast-paced, and it was the Bucks getting on the scoreboard less than three minutes into the game when Eve Damsker sent a through pass that got behind the defense to Nina Mayro, who found Mimi Duffy, and the senior one-timed a shot into the cage for a 1-0 lead.
The Bucks took that one-goal advantage into halftime and looked as though they would survive a Whippet flurry in the third quarter, but on their fifth of five corners in the quarter, the Whippets converted on a shot from the top of the circle by Kylie Briggs, an American University commit.
And then just when it looked as though the second overtime would not determine a winner, the Whippets drew their first and only corner of OT, scoring on a rebound that fell just beyond the goal line with 2:36 remaining.
“The improvement I’ve seen in this team – we lost the first two times we played in overtime, but we took it to a second one tonight, and we dominated this one,” Ierubino said. “Of course, I’m disappointed that it was a loss, but I’m so proud of this team.
“We’re not done yet. It was a perfect game to get us ready for the competition we’re going to see in states. It was a good game.”
“We’re excited for states,” Cosner said. “We played amazing.”
Central Bucks West (18-3, 14-2 SOL) will host #4 Boyertown in a third-place game at a day and time to be determined.
EXTRA SHOTS: In addition to Pitts, who was credited with eight saves, Lucy Damsker, Eve Damsker & Heidi Schoenleber each had a defensive save…In a nice moment after the game, Cosner had a friendly exchange with Downingtown West’s Sydney O’Donnell. “I knew she was committed to Delaware for lacrosse, and I’m going for field hockey,” Cosner said. “But I didn’t know of her personally, so she introduced herself. It was really sweet. I just walked away with a smile.”
Central Bucks West 1-0-0-0-0-0 1
Downingtown West 0-0-1-0-0-1 2
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