CLARION — This time last week, Freedom's girls soccer team had high hopes for the remainder of the season while sporting an undefeated record.

After running into District 9 champion Karns City Tuesday night, the Bulldogs are now referring to the 2017 campaign in the past tense.

Haley Scherer's goal in the 56th minute broke a 1-1 tie and lifted Karns City to a 2-1 PIAA Class 2A win over Freedom at Clarion University's Memorial Stadium.

“We played them earlier this year and lost, 4-1,” said Gremlin coach Tracy Dailey. “In that game we sat back, so we knew tonight that we had to keep pushing, keep pounding. They made a few mistakes and we made them pay. From our defense to our forwards, we knew what we needed to do to beat them.

“Being the underdog, I love it,” added Dailey. “The expectations weren't on us, they were on them.”

The deciding tally, which was assisted by junior midfielder Hannah Knoll, came less than a minute after the Bulldogs had three shots at the Gremlin net, but were unable to score.

Goalkeeper Cambree Powers made the initial save, but Freedom got to the rebound and sent two shots toward the net from less than five yards away. Both attempts were blocked by Karns City defenders.

“We told the girls before the game to expect Cambree to make the first save, but they had to be there for the second save,” said Dailey. “For us to score right after that, it was a big shift in momentum.”

Karns City will face Mercyhurst Prep, a 1-0 double-overtime winner over Central, in a quarterfinal Saturday at a site and time to be determined.

Freedom (19-2) sustained its first loss of the season in the WPIAL championship game against Waynesburg last week.

“Coach Dailey talked to us before tonight about passion,” said KC senior midfielder Kaylee Smith. “We had passion and knew we could be the better team.”

Karns City (13-5-1) managed most of the offensive push in the first 30 minutes of the game and the Gremlins made it count in the 29th minute.

After Smith took KC's fourth corner kick of the first half, Freedom was whistled for a foul just to the left of the Bulldog net, resulting in a penalty kick. Knoll booted the ball past Freedom goalkeeper Jacklyn Hartle.

The Bulldogs tied the game before halftime. Myah Hrinko took a pair of free kicks to the right of KC's net just 50 seconds apart. Powers snagged the first one out of the air, but the second hit the ground amid a crowd of players. Freedom got off two shots near the left corner of the goal, but both were blocked by Karns City defenders. The Gremlins were unable to provide obstruction to a third shot off the foot of Alexsia Barlamas, who tied the game in the 36th minute.

Hartle made four saves for Freedom. Powers had 10 saves for KC, including one with 22 seconds left to seal the victory.

“She did a lot of talking back there tonight,” Dailey said of Powers. “She was tremendous.”