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.