Northampton girls soccer’s historic season ends in PIAA first round

The Northampton Area High School girls soccer team's defense withstood a first half filled with chances.

Eventually, however, Downingtown West's pressure became too much.

The Konkrete Kids' historic season ended on Tuesday night with a 3-0 defeat to Downingtown West in a PIAA Class 4A first-round contest at Al Erdosy Stadium.

Northampton , which was making its first appearance in the state tournament, closed the campaign at 16-6-1.

Downingtown West (21-3), the District 1 third-place team, advances to Saturday's state quarterfinals to meet Garnet Valley, the D-1 fourth-place finisher.

Northampton senior goalkeeper Emma Fry, a Slippery Rock University recruit, kept her team afloat in the opening 40 minutes with seven saves.

Fry turned away a hard shot by senior Teagan Harkins, who's headed to Temple University, 7 minutes into the game. Seven minutes later, the goalie dove to her right to deny Wake Forest commit Ava Reddy, a junior.

"She's been a stud for us the entire year ... and we're not here without her. That's clear," Northampton coach Michael Missmer said of Fry. "They were just attacking and attacking and attacking – so many quality players, such a good team ... They were very good at moving the ball. Their pattern play was rehearsed and really good. We couldn't figure it out and get inside that attacking shape."

Downingtown West coach Meghan Brogan wasn't comfortable at halftime despite her team's overwhelming advantage in possession.

"You can dominate everywhere but on the scoreboard," she said. "It's dangerous. Yes, stay patient. Yes, stay true to (the game plan). But yes, we do need a little bit of urgency ... The only stat that counts is the one on the scoreboard."

Fry made another terrific save about five minutes into the second half when she dropped to her left and got her fingertips to a low shot from Downingtown West freshman Macie Osunde.

The dam burst moments later, however.

Downingtown West senior Drew Rightmire was about 45 yards away and to the right of the goal when she boomed a free kick toward the net. The shot went off the hand of a leaping Fry and across the goal line for the contest's opening score with 30:14 remaining in the second half.

The Whippets struck again less than 2 minutes later. Harkins sent a corner kick to the far post and sophomore Camryn Bayly was there to volley it into the goal.

Junior Maia Coyle put the game to bed by pouncing on a rebound and scoring with 18:29 left on the clock.

Downingtown West generated nine corner kicks, compared to zero for Northampton. Fry finished with 13 saves.

Tuesday marked just the second time Northampton conceded three goals in a game this season. The other was a 3-0 setback to Bangor in early October.

The Whippets' physicality provided a challenge for Northampton.

"Overall, they were bigger than us," Northampton senior midfielder Chloe Watson said. "... We didn't know what to expect, because we're always used to knowing the teams that we're going to play. We didn't know anything about them."

Downingtown West won PIAA girls soccer championships in 2004, 2006 and 2009. The district also won state titles in 2000 and 2001 before the high school was split into East and West. The Whippets, however, hadn't appeared in the state tournament since 2015.

"It's definitely very important just because none of these players have ever even been (in the PIAA tournament)," Brogan said. "... I did feel like, four years ago when I took this (job), these guys should be back to where Downingtown West used to be. That was kind of the goal when we took it over."

Northampton was in totally uncharted waters after stringing together three one-goal victories to capture the program's first District 11 title .

"It's pretty amazing," Missmer said. "If you look at the four years (the seniors) have had, every single year has gotten better as far as the stats go, as far as their record goes."

The Konkrete Kids had 12 seniors on their roster, 11 of whom were available on Tuesday night and finished the game together.

"I wanted them to end on the field," Missmer said. "It was nice to be able to do that."

Watson said the result doesn't alter the strong friendships the K-Kids cultivated on and off the field. It also didn't nullify how special it was to draw a sizable home crowd for a program milestone.

"It means a lot and I think it's a night that we'll never forget," she said.