Pennridge and Neshaminy earned dramatic wins in Wednesday’s District One 4A semifinals and will meet in Saturday’s district title game. Photos of the Neshaminy/Conestoga game provided courtesy of Jesse Garber (http://JSGarber.zenfolio.com/p655079364) Additional photos of the Neshaminy/Conestoga game, shot by John Gleeson, can be viewed in our SOS gallery…CLICK HERE.
PENNRIDGE 1, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1 2OT (Pennridge advances 7-6 in PKs)
The playoffs tend to find heroes in the most unexpected of places.
Wednesday night, Pennridge's heroes were a senior forward who's not been in form for much of it, a sophomore forward who comes off the bench and a sophomore goalkeeper who's split time in the net all year. Three unlikely heroes, each providing a big moment and as a result, the Rams are going to the district title game.
All they had to do to get there was survive a marathon with their most evenly-matched rival.
"It's always fun seeing them because it's always a fun game," Pennridge senior Melissa Lyon said. "It's fun because it's a battle and it's not easy. It's good work rate on both sides."
There's evenly matched then there is what happened on Wednesday. The first 40 minutes was even, the second 40 minutes was again, even. The 30 minutes of overtime, also even. So, and because someone had to advance, it went to PKs. Even then, it still took nine rounds to figure out who was going to play for a district title.
The Titans certainly played well enough to win. Their defense at times baffled Pennridge's attack, and keeper Sophia Boggs was brilliant in regulation and overtime.
"It is unfortunate when you have to end it in penalty kicks," CB South coach Betsy Bullock said. "It was quite a battle with Pennridge as we expected. We game planned for them and I think we played them much better than we did the last time (a 2-1 loss) so I was pleased with the play in regulation and overtime."
South central defender Courtney Taylor was strong all game, and the Titans played a high line to keep Pennridge's forwards from slipping in behind on through balls. The space also allowed Boggs, on the few chances the Rams got that kind of ball through, to sweep it off her line and cover or clear the ball.
Boggs had six saves, but no doubt her biggest came with five minutes left in regulation when, after a corner, Pennridge back Rachel Velez sent in a ball that looked destined for net when Boggs somehow punched it over the crossbar.
"She keeps and holds us in so many games and that's an example of it," Bullock said. "Our defense played very well in front of her and she did have to come up big, at least on that one occasion, for sure."
So about those three heroes for Pennridge.
The first was Lyon, the ever-smiling, bubbly whirlwind of positivity. She's a good player, she's going to Drexel to play, but all season she just hasn't been able to consistently finish chances in front of net.
A lot of that is due to a severe ankle injury she had in preseason. On Wednesday, she didn't miss her chance in regulation, putting a good shot past Boggs with 34:54 to play after Erin Stevenson found her after a corner.
"It felt so good," Lyon said. "Before preseason even started, I tore up the ligaments in my ankle and it was an uphill battle. I was so happy to put this one away and I'm feeling good again, I'm ready to finish out the season."
Through her personal struggles, Lyon didn't let it affect how she was around her teammates. She also kept hustling and working hard, something that did not go unnoticed.
"Everybody wants her to succeed, she's such a good teammate," Rams coach Audrey Anderson said. "I'd say she's only like that on game days, but she's like that everywhere. I've seen her in the grocery store and she's like that. Every team needs a Melissa."
South would tie the game six minutes later when Chelsea Nichols pulled a terrific move to shake a defender and then volleyed a shot in from 25 yards out. There the score stayed through 28 more minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of overtime.
That brings up the second hero for Pennridge, sophomore goalkeeper Mary Kate Levush. She's split time all season with senior Kaitlyn Moran, but it's a good relationship, each bringing something different and the two pushing each other all the way.
The task was a daunting one as Levush tried to best Boggs in a shootout. But before the keepers walked down to the end of the field, a line of Rams walked over to the keeper, all telling her to relax and just do what she could.
"I felt a little nervous but I knew we could get it done," Levush said.
South's second shooter missed but Boggs made a big save in the fourth round, on Lyon of all people, to tie it back up. After the five rounds, it remained tied and the shootout became even more cruel with a series of one-and-done rounds.
On the eighth shooter she faced, after getting a hand on two prior shots, Levush got a save.
"When that happened, I just felt really good," Levush said. "I felt like it was new life since we were ahead."
Pennridge missed high, sending the shootout to a ninth round. Again, Levush made the stop.
"We played so much better from the second half on, and I think that's why we were able to succeed," Levush said. "It's been a really good ride so far."
Levush's second save set the stage for the third hero, Abby Groff. The sophomore has filled a lot of roles during the season, but has settled in as a energy sub at forward.
Her PK was solid and true and Pennridge was celebrating its first trip to the district final since 2011, when assistant coach Stevi Parker was a senior and led the Rams to the title.
"It's exactly what it says, we're so even," Groff said. "We each beat each other once and now we tied and had to go to penalty kicks. It's not that (we) felt loose but we felt more comfortable, we've been further than we have been in playoffs for four years, and if we were to work hard as we had been, we could go even farther."
The Rams will face top-seeded Neshaminy at 6 pm Saturday at Phoenixville High School.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0 1 0 0 – 1 (6)
PENNRIDGE 0 1 0 0 – 1 (7)
Goals: CBS – Chelsea Nichols (Aleksa Peev) 51', P – Melissa Lyon (Erin Stevenson) 45'
NESHAMINY 1, CONESTOGA 0 OT
There's little doubt Neshaminy has played one of the toughest schedules in the area, if not the entire state. The reason was so that when the stakes got high, like say, for a trip to the district final, the team would be able to respond.
Wednesday, Neshaminy responded.
"This group of girls will battle and grind it out until the final whistle blows and it shows in their results," 
Neshaminy coach Chelsea Lovelace said. "They know what to do when they get in these type of situations and they are confident in themselves and in one another."
Against a very good Conestoga team with some quality young players, Neshaminy held its own, adjusted to the opponent and when it came time, found a way to push through and find a winner. As a result, Neshaminy will play for its first district title since it won in 2013, then went on to win a state title that same year.
That team had Megan Schafer, now at Penn State. This team doesn't have that type of player, but it does have a lot of kids really good at their roles and playing as a team. On Wednesday, Neshaminy started well, something it hadn't been doing so far this postseason.
"It was even throughout most of the game. We came out strong, which we haven't done in our most recent games," Lovelace said. "We had a couple of quality chances in the first 20 minutes of the first half. The last seven minutes of the second half, both teams had scoring opportunities."
Lovelace said her players started with more intensity, pressure on the ball and a focus to play quickly, which they didn't have the last few rounds.
Over the course of the game, the Pioneers showed they were most dangerous when they were able to play out of the back, using their defenders to find midfielders and then flick the ball on to their attacking players.
"Our girls adjusted and made sure they could see their mark and the ball, which helped us out," Lovelace said. "We also had to limit their time on the ball and their ability to scan the field. So once we started to close down quicker, it made defending a little bit easier for us."
Maggie Daeche and Nicole Palmer were anchors in the middle of the Neshaminy defense.
The pressure mostly came from the midfield, but it started up top.
"It started with Kristin Curley, Brooke Mullin and Gina Sexton. They made it very difficult for their backs to get the ball out, forcing errors and anticipating mistakes," Lovelace said. "In the second half, Riley Nyhus did a good job of limiting time on the ball in the midfield."
Neshaminy had been pounding at the door all game and while it hadn't gotten through, it felt close. As the 80 minutes ran out in regulation, it just felt like a matter of time.
"We had a bunch of chances to score so I knew one was coming," Lovelace said. "We have been in the same type of situation before and have always found a way to find a goal first so I think that helped take some pressure off of them. Sometimes you only get one opportunity so you have to make it count."
That opportunity came 4:43 into overtime. Previously, Neshaminy had a few good throw-ins land in the box, but Conestoga had always cleared them out. This time was different.
"Genna Obringer threw in from the right side and found Brooke Mullin's head and Brooke flicked it backwards toward goal," Lovelace said. "The ball landed and Kristin Curley was there to have a quick shot."
The district title trip is Lovelace's first as head coach and she said the players are very excited by the opportunity.
"This is a huge accomplishment that doesn't happen too often so we want them to enjoy it and have the excitement carry into Saturday's game," Lovelace said. "They have made us so proud this season, it's nice to see them succeed and believe in themselves as much as we believe in them."
Neshaminy will battle Pennridge at 6 pm Saturday at Phoenixville High School.
CONESTOGA 0 0 0 – 0
NESHAMINY 0 0 1 – 1
Goals: N – Kristin Curley (Brooke Mullin) 85'
DOWNINGTOWN EAST 1, PENNSBURY 0
All good things must come to an end and such was the case for the Falcons and their special group of seniors on Wednesday.
A long-range goal by the Cougars in the first half stood up as Pennsbury's offense was shut down for the second game in a row and the Falcons lost in a fifth-place playback game at home. Pennsbury scored just one goal in three district playoff games.
"Losing a game is never enjoyable, but the reality of a loss at this point in the season is truly painful," Falcons coach Kaitlyn Battiste said. "The legacy of this senior class will be recognized by outsiders as three consecutive league titles and a district title in 2014. However, to those in the program, we'll remember their heart and passion."
Pennsbury won the SOL National for the third year in a row, its only regular season loss coming to Neshaminy.
"They made it their responsibility to take pride in the details that made a number of talented individuals a remarkable team. Since their freshman year, I've always admired their incredible work ethic and competitive nature – they will never give up," Battiste said. "It was heartbreaking today watching them battle out there only to hear the final whistle say it's all over. I feel honored to have had the opportunity to coach them, and although there is a finality to their high school soccer career, I hope they recognize the lasting effects of the contributions they have made to this program and this community."
DOWNINGTOWN EAST 1 0 – 1
PENNSBURY 0 0 – 0
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