Manheim Township beaten by Conestoga in first round of PIAA Class 4A girls soccer playoffs
It was a battle of giants. It was a battle that deserved to be decided by a goal worthy of giants.
And it was.
Six minutes into the second half Conestoga's Payton McCall made a long run from the 50, a run that delivered her to the far — left — post just as Lauren Grimes' cross arrived from the right wing.
It was the only goal of the match as Conestoga, the District One fifth seed, eliminated District Three champion Manheim Township 1-0 Tuesday evening in the opening round of the PIAA Class 4A girls soccer tournament.
The Pioneers (20-3) were no ordinary fifth-place team. They entered the District One tournament as the No. 1 seed but were upset in the quarterfinals by Lower Merion 1-0.
"They've been the 'One' all year," said Blue Streaks coach Terry Law, "and they played like the 'One' tonight. And we went toe-to-toe with them. That's all you can ask."
The Streaks (21-3) came out with three offensive chances in the first eight minutes, but the game settled into a set of thrust and counters and went to halftime scoreless.
The Pioneers picked up two shots on goal, saved by Biz O'Gorman, in the opening three minutes of the second half, before Township's Kate Palumbo sent a sweet cross from the left wing to Jordan Nguyen on the doorstep. Nguyen's shot sailed over the frame.
Off the goal kick 'Stoga counterattacked with Grimes carrying into the offensive third.
"We talk a lot about getting numbers in the box," said Pioneers coach Deane Mariotti, "taking risks to get forward, but mitigating risks coming back. Payton committed and it was great."
The Streaks dug in and challenged, the best opportunity coming with just under 20 minutes to play when Pioneers keeper Emily Klaiber turned away Liv Parmer's shot, then recovered to deny Nikke Nguyen.
Five minutes after that sequence the soccer gods stood with O'Gorman as sophomore Kate Kemmerly, already a Notre Dame recruit, hit the right post, hard, from the left wing.
The Streaks put together several challenges in the final 10 minutes, but ultimately couldn't get the equalizer.
"It just didn't bounce our way," said Law. "We were really close on a handful of times that may not even show up in the stat line. We had just an awesome season. Sixteen straight (wins), 15 shutouts, that's big-time stuff, and I don't want them to forget that."
