Manheim Township's girls soccer players know they can always count on their keeper to save the day

Sometimes it looks like Biz O'Gorman could read a book back there. The senior is a spectator as the match unfolds in front of her.

For much of Manheim Township's regular season, that's the role of the goalkeeper. It's this time of year when she makes a difference.

One save, one moment, can determine if all of Township's dreams come true.

O'Gorman made that save against Northern York Saturday. A diving stop on Allison Bechtel in the final minute that preserved Township's 1-0 win in the District Three Class 4A girls soccer championship game at Central Dauphin's Landis Field.

"My adrenaline was just rushing," O'Gorman said. "Once I got my body behind it, I was so excited."

Township secured the title for the second time in three years. O'Gorman was the starter on both occasions.

Playing keeper for the Blue Streaks can alternate between being the easiest and hardest job in the Lancaster-Lebanon League.

O'Gorman can watch 20 minutes slip away without even touching the ball. She has to stretch and jump around just to stay warm and mentally engaged.

Then, suddenly, she's the most important person on the field.

"She's a remarkable player who understands the role, which is, 'I know I have to be on in a moment's notice,'" Township coach Terry Law said. "She has that ability to stay locked in. There aren't a lot of kids who can do that."

O'Gorman has played goalie since she started club soccer when she was six. She gravitated there for a simple reason: That's where her older brother, Matt, played and she did whatever Matt did.

The position suits O'Gorman. She's tall with a wide wingspan. She has been Township's starter, either full-time or part-time, since she was a freshman.

"I just stuck with it," the senior said, "and I ended up being pretty decent at it."

O'Gorman has helped Township claim three L-L League and two district championships. She played a vital role in securing both titles this fall.

The league final against Cedar Crest went to penalty kicks. The Falcons missed three of their four attempts. O'Gorman's presence in the net was a factor.

Then there was the save against Northern. A clutch save that allowed Township to lift a trophy instead of playing extra time.

"Some goalies, if it gets past the back line, you're like, 'Oh no,'" senior Ally Mulholland said. "With Biz, you know she has it. She's just so good and she's always working."

Mulholland shoots against O'Gorman in practice. The midfielder knows the challenge better than most. Those shots must be perfectly placed or they never reach their destination.

There are periods of time when O'Gorman admits she gets bored inside the 6-yard box. When she wants to be a bigger part of the action. That's the blessing and curse that comes with being Township's keeper.

"The game gets redundant," O'Gorman said. "Being on a good team, not a lot of shots come your way sometimes. It's kind of hard mentally. You do it every day."

O'Gorman was thinking through Law's scouting report as the minutes ticked away Saturday. She remembered that Northern never quits. The Polar Bears stunned Central Dauphin near the end of their semifinal match. That's how she stayed ready.

After O'Gorman denied Bechtel, Township moved the ball to the other side of the field. The final seconds harmlessly counted down toward the title.

O'Gorman was back to being a spectator. At that point, she didn't mind. She could see another celebration building.

It wouldn't have happened without her.