Pennridge & CB South advanced while Neshaminy saw its season end in the opening round of the PIAA Class 4A Tournament Tuesday. Neshaminy/Hempfield photo provided courtesy of Jesse Garber (http://jsgarber.zenfolio.com/p183894690)
#1-2 PENNRIDGE 3, #11-2 STROUDSBURG 0
It took nearly an hour of game time, but the Rams finally broke through in their first state playoff game in five years.
When senior Erin Stevenson scored with 21:57 left in the second half, her expression was more one of exasperated relief than elation. But it finally opened the gates and Pennridge put away two more goals to make a trip to the quarterfinals a reality.
Stroudsburg probably played it the right way, putting seven, eight or even nine players behind the ball and bunkered in on all 11 Pennridge corner kicks, making it difficult to even get shots off.
"At halftime it was more about us keeping our composure in front of goal," Rams coach Audrey Anderson said. "To have that many shots and I wouldn't really even call them shots, I would call them hits, the keeper didn't have to make any real saves.
“We talked about that if we made one mistake, they could score and we would have to dig ourselves out of a hole so it was all about keeping composed and being patient. It was going to happen, we just had to keep it together."
It was very much a one-sided game. Pennridge put 20 shots on net, plus the 11 corners. Stroudsburg didn't have a corner kick and didn't put a single shot on net. But Pennridge could not seem to score, whether it was Mountaineers keeper April Manhart making 16 saves, or one of her defenders getting enough of a body part in the way to stop a shot.
Pennridge was also hesitant to play more aggressively on offense, the coaching staff urging the midfielders and even backs to press up into attack.
"We had been connecting well, things were going really well for us except our shots weren't going on frame or going right to the keeper," senior midfielder Katie Fischer said. "Aud just told us, especially the forwards, to stay composed and focused."
"That's how it's going to be from here on," senior midfielder Savanna Harrison said. "They're going to put their entire team in on defense so it's going to be a challenge. But that's what we've been working on in practice, just connecting little passes in the midfield and giving our forwards time to make their runs."
Fischer admitted there was a little bit of panic in the team as the end of the first half approached but after the break, the onslaught was right back on.
Stevenson took upon herself to create the turning point. She picked up a short pass from Ashley Groeber then drove the rest of the field, getting into the box and rifling a shot that Manhart had no chance to save.
"I knew that whoever scored the first goal, our momentum was going to go forward and we were going to get more," Stevenson said.
The senior midfielder has done a little of everything for her team this season, so it seemed fitting she got them on track to head into the state quarterfinals.
"Stevi (Parker) and I were talking and we both said Erin was going to be the one to get the first goal," Anderson said. "She was open too many times in the middle of the field to not get a shot off. It was pretty cool to hear the stands erupt the way they did. It was nice to see Erin get that goal, she does work so hard and she had the opportunities. For her to be open that many times, she'd kick herself if she didn't get a goal."
Not even three minutes later, Kennedy Peace added a goal of her own after some frustrations at the hands of Stroudsburg's defense. Sophomore Sarah Williams, who has been a spark off the bench in the postseason, sealed the deal with a penalty kick with 14 minutes left in the game.
Coming off a shutout loss to Neshaminy in the District I title game, then adding 60 more minutes without a goal could have gotten the Rams to start trying to do too much. Instead, they kept playing the way they planned, with the short connecting passes and ball-winning tackles wearing down the Mountaineers.
"Aud told us to settle it down and not do too much, especially us as the midfielders," Harrison said. "Once she said that, we were able to recognize, reflect and fix our mistakes."
Pennridge faces a tough task in District 3 champion Cumberland Valley in Saturday's quarterfinal round.
STROUDSBURG 0 0 – 0
PENNRIDGE 0 3 – 3
Goals: P – Erin Stevenson 58', Kennedy Peace 61', Sarah Williams 66'
#1-4 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 4, #12-1 CENTRAL 0
The Titans were looking for a strong rebound after entering the state tournament off back-to-back losses.
They certainly got it in Northeast Philly. South scored three times before the first half ended, tacked on one more after the break and controlled the District 12 champions all match.
Titans coach Betsy Bullock said her group was very confident even after falling in PKs to Pennridge in the semifinals and Conestoga in the third/fourth place game. It showed in the start.
"After two tough losses, we really wanted to rebound," Bullock said.
Central still posed some challenges for the Titans.
"We knew they would be physical and had speed on the flanks," Bullock said.
Mackenzie Edwards was the spark, scoring twice and assisting the other two goals from her outside midfield position.
Chelsea Nichols put her team on the board for the first time with 18:51 left in the first half before Edwards marked both her tallies in a nine-minute span, the second coming with just 54 seconds left in the half, to all but put the game away.
Kayla Lutteroty was the third player to score for South, putting away the fourth goal.
"The energy and effort carried through 80 minutes," Bullock said. “With a four-goal lead, it gave us the opportunity to rest some players."
Senior goalkeeper Sophia Boggs was not challenged much and the players in front of her did well to keep it that way.
"Courtney Taylor on defense and Maddie Koch in midfield contained their fast forward up top," Bullock said.
CB South will face Hempfield, a winner in OT over Neshaminy, in Saturday's quarterfinal round.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3 1 – 4
CENTRAL 0 0 – 0
Goals: CBS – Mackenzie Edwards 2, Kayla Lutteroty, Chelsea Nichols
#3-3 HEMPFIELD 1, #1-1 NESHAMINY 0 OT
It was an unexpected end for the District I champions as Hempfield scored the game winner with about five minutes left in the first overtime.
Hempfield had an apparent goal called back just before the end of regulation that kept it scoreless and brought up the extra session. The loss ends the careers of a decorated Neshaminy senior class that was part of two district titles and a 2013 PIAA state championship.
HEMPFIELD 0 0 1 –1
NESHAMINY 0 0 0 –0
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