GIRLS SOCCER: CB East topples Central York to break first round PIAA playoff hex
BUCKINGHAM — It was the one thing that had eluded them in four years.
Central Bucks East's senior class of 2025 had done about everything else, this year's special season including an outright Suburban One League title and the team's first District 1 title in nine years, but they hadn't won a state playoff game yet. This fall has been different, so it was fitting that the scenarios heading into Tuesday's PIAA 4A first round were a bit different to match.
East's seniors crossed one more item off the bucket list, the District 1 champions dashing past District 3's third-place finish Central York 4-0 to start a state run.
"I knew coming into the game this was going to be my last one here and I was playing like it was my last one," East senior Stella Genin said. "I wanted to leave it all on the field, do the best I could and try my hardest. I'm glad I got a goal to help us out."
After three straight seasons of making states and losing to Central Dauphin on the road, the Patriots finally got to line up against Central someone else, York in this case, and on their home field. The Panthers, who had put together a special season of their own that included a YAIAA league title and their first ever trip to states, came out with nothing to lose.
It took a few minutes for East to settle in, then the Patriots looked like themselves again as they began to hunt goals. CY keeper Brooklyn Shaffer showed some good hands, the sophomore finishing the night with 10 saves and not allowing rebounds on East's efforts from range.
Midway through the first half, Mia Forney picked up a ball near midfield, took a few touches and played a perfect through ball to senior Madelyn Hill. Hill got inside her defender, lined up her shot and buried it with 19:50 left to give East a lead.
The Patriots continued to pester the goal until the half, but couldn't add onto their lead. During the break, East reinforced that Central York wasn't going to go away and it would take a few more goals to put them away.
"We had to prepare for them to come out strong," Hill said. "We realized our tempo had to be raised. We needed to cut some of the touches out and we finally got to playing how we usually play."
Genin added that she and her teammates were looking for a little too much when they just needed to be a little more aggressive.
"We touched at halftime that we were looking for the perfect shot," Genin said. "Mads, I was waiting for her to take it on her left when she kept going all the way in and wanted to dish it off. I just wanted us to start shooting and actually testing the goalie, not waiting for the perfect opportunity but taking those textbook opportunities."
Central York pushed back some for the first 15 or so minutes of the second half. While East senior Mae Leedy, who played against a future teammate at Shippensburg in CY senior Emma Eisenhart, only made one save, she did a good job keeping the box clear and being an outlet for her defenders.
Senior center backs Savannah Hayes and Sydney Ralph also cleaned up a lot of potential trouble in front of the goal. With their efforts, the Patriots could be aggressive in the attack knowing their back line was keyed in.
The Patriots got their groove back midway through the second half through Genin. A Panthers' miscue at the back allowed the senior to get a clean look, which she ripped off her left foot, clipping the crossbar and doubling the lead.
That set off a deluge as East added two more goals in the next five minutes, both coming from junior Magee Williamson.
"(East coach Jake Nesteruk) tells me to be the spark," Williamson, who comes off the bench, said. "I'm always really grateful for the opportunities I do get, so I try to fill the spot of the person who's coming off to get a break and keep the energy as high as I can."
Williamson has scored some big goals this season and she had no hesitation in going after a couple of balls sent in by her teammates as East's momentum started to swell. Not even 30 seconds after Genin's goal, the Patriots were back on the attack with Taylor Roumy serving a cross off the left side that Williamson met at the near post to knock in off her shoulder.
Four minutes later, Roumy played another ball across, this one seemed destined to go out for a goal kick until Hill made a tremendous save on the endline, her flick finding Williamson back in front as the junior one-touched the ball in for a brace.
"Roumy did that a few times before and I wasn't there, so I decided I was going to get closer in," Hill said. "I didn't want another one to get away."
East finished the game with all eight of its seniors on the pitch, midfielder Mikayla Gray getting her first playing time of the season, a symbolic way to close out the state playoff win that was missing from their career ledgers.
The Patriots will play District 12 champion Archbishop Carroll, a 2-1 winner over Emmaus, in Saturday's quarterfinal round. Whether they're a senior or a sophomore, a starter or a reserve, this group is enjoying the ride too much to be ready to see it end.
"I'm grateful to keep playing with this team," Genin said. "This year, we're so connected as individuals. Even taking the soccer out of it, this team is such a family and I'm so excited we get to keep playing.
"Yes, we're playing to score, playing to win but I think we're also playing for each other to have another practice and have another game."
CENTRAL YORK 0 0 – 0
CB EAST 1 3 – 4
Goals: CBE – Madelyn Hill (Mia Forney), Stella Genin, Magee Williamson (Taylor Roumy), Magee Williamson (Madelyn Hill).
