KARNS CITY — The agony of victory?

North Catholic put 22 shots on net to Karns City's three. The Trojanettes took nine corner kicks to the Gremlins' one.

When the final buzzer sounded, North secured a 2-1 PIAA Class 2A first-round girls soccer victory at Diehl Stadium — and coach Brittni Grenninger was not happy about it.

“With the talent we have on this team, it's an embarrassment to win this game by a 2-1 score,” Grenninger said. “I don't know how to explain this. It's almost like we didn't show up.”

Facing goalkeeper Rossi McMillen had something to do with it.

The Gremlins senior made 20 saves — including a few outstanding ones — to keep her team in the game.

“I knew I'd have to be pretty active tonight,” McMillen said. “My defense gave me a lot of help on those shots. I thiought we did a good holding them off.”

McMillen made 51 saves combined in Karns City's last two games.

“Absolutely crazy,” KC coach Tracy Dailey said.

North Catholic (18-2) got on the board in the 17th minute. Alexis Wateska lofted a pass behind the defense to Kathleen Virostek, who deftly headed the ball over McMillen's head and into the net.

The goal was Virostek's third of the season.

“I thought that play may have been offsides,” KC coach Tracy Dailey said. “It'll be interesting when I go back and look at the film.”

Lauren MacDonald notched her 21st goal of the year in the 32nd minute for the Trojanettes, getting a loose ball while alone in front of the net and drilling it past McMillen.

That was all the goal-scoring WPIAL runner-up North Catholic would muster the rest of the night.

Karns City (15-4) did not muster a shot on goal until the Gremlins put one toward the net from the left corner with less than two minutes to go in the half.

The Gremlins just missed getting on the board early in the second half. Backup goalkeeper Morgan Schlegel barely beat KC scoring leader McKenna Martin to the ball near the right post less than two minutes into the second half. A cross from Lyrik Reed rolled just out of the reach of Martin in the 45th minute. Martin had a wide-open net on that play.

“So close,” Dailey said. “We had to be more defensive minded in this game than we normally are, given (North's) speed and ability. Our goal was to be within a goal or two at halftime.

“We had to come out in the second half and dictate the pace, right off that first possession. I think we did that.”

The Trojanettes had repeated opportunities to expand their lead, but McMillen was equal to the task.

“We didn't show the tenacity and heart, the willingness to run through a brick wall to put the ball in the net,” Grenninger said.

“The WPIAL tournament is daunting. It's a grind. Coming off that was tough, but our effort has to better.”

Emma Dailey had a free kick from 23 yards out for Karns City in the 52nd minute, but hooked a shot over the crossbar.

The Gremlins received a penalty kick with 8:37 remaining. Sarah Dodd made it count, the freshman putting the ball in the net to the left of Schlegel.

Schlegel played the second half after starting Trojanette goalkeeper Rylee Kumer left the game at halftime. She is coming off a knee injury.

“She just couldn't push off that leg. She had trouble kicking the ball,” Grenninger said of Kumer.

After Dodd's goal, the Gremlins never got a solid chance at a game-tying goal.

“I like the way we played tonight. I'm proud of these girls,” Dailey said. “We won the district. It was a good year.”

Martin finished the season with 56 goals. Dailey netted 27.

Grenninger is a Karns City graduate and, like Martin, one of the top goal scorers in the program's history.

“It's always nice coming back to my alma mater,” Grenninger said. “I just wish we had played a better game.”

North Catholic plays Villa Maria — a 4-3 winner over Southmoreland — in the next round Saturday at a site and time to be determined.