Extra work rewarded
COLLIER TWP — The first goal brought relief.
The second score carried with it a trip to the WPIAL girls soccer finals.
With less than three minutes gone in the second overtime, Seneca Valley midfielder Misha Demchuk received a pass from Mandy Kasperski and blew a shot past Canon-McMillan goalkeeper Ashley Hull.
The sequence gave the Raiders a 2-1 semifinal win Wednesday night at Chartiers Valley and sends the team to Elizabeth Forward High on Saturday, when it will face Peters Township for the Class AAA title at a time to be determined.
"I was happy we were able to tough it out and get the win," Demchuk said. "Earlier in the game, nothing we did went in.
"It's an honor to score such a big goal," she added.
"Seneca Valley is a very good team and we gave them everything we had," said Canon-McMillan coach Dave Derrico. "Some of the execution could've been better, but I'm not disappointed at all with our girls' effort."
For a majority of the first 70 minutes, the Raiders peppered Hull with shots. The ones the sophomore goalkeeper didn't stop did everything from sail over the crossbar, go just wide of the net or bounce off a post.
Making matters worse for the Raiders, the Big Macs (16-6) took a 1-0 lead when senior Taylor Schram headed in a corner kick in the 27th minute for her 52nd goal of 2009.
It was the first playoff goal given up this season by SV goalie Keara Lydon.
"It was frustrating," said Raiders coach Dave Sylvester. "We were worried so much about defending Taylor in the first half, I think it took us out of our comfort zone.
"At halftime, I told the girls we were going back to what we do best, which is making a strong push offensively," he added.
The Raiders' luck changed when sophomore Katie Riley's shot found the back of the net to tie the score at 1-all in the 72nd minute.
Kasperski also assisted SV's first tally of the night.
The score gave the Raiders (20-0-1) new life and, despite a scoreless first overtime, SV controlled the play up until Demchuk's goal.
Lydon made three saves in the game, while Hull had 13.
"I love this team," said Sylvester, who leaned back and let out a sigh made up more of accomplishment than relief, knowing his team is back in the title game for the second time in three years. "I've coached some very good teams and enjoyed all of them, but the camaraderie on this team — it's a great atmosphere. These kids love soccer."
Wednesday's game was the furthest the Big Macs had gotten in the WPIAL playoffs. They are guaranteed a spot in the upcoming PIAA tournament.
