In pursuit of a 3-peat
WEXFORD – The pursuit of a state 3-peat continues.
Thanks to Aly Cooper's 45th-minute goal on Saturday night, the Planets (18-0-1) prevailed against Montour (16-8-0), 1-0, in a PIAA Class 3A girls soccer quarterfinal at North Allegheny's Newman Stadium. It was the teams' fourth encounter of the season, including a WPIAL semifinal that Mars won by the same score.
“Being so familiar with them, we kind of knew what they were doing, just like they knew what we were doing,” Lady Spartans coach Lee Coughenour said. “It was a lot of back-and-forth and, unfortunately, it just didn't go our way.”
In the 10th minute, a pass for Planet sophomore Addison Girdwood squirted toward the net. Montour goalie Ashley Vith couldn't handle it off the bounce. The ball having dribbled even further into the box, Girdwood tried to give chase. Vith clutched onto the striker's leg, but the official let them play on.
“It's a PK and a red card,” Mars coach Blair Gerlach said. “There's no question. It's a penalty kick in whatever country and whatever language you speak.”
Later in the half, the Lady Spartans' Natalie Alan booted a pair of corner kicks in the same minute, with nothing doing on either.
Shortly after, Mars' Reese Dunaway fired off a shot to be slowed by the hand of a diving Vith. The ball then rolled slowly by, bumping the right pole and coming to a stop short of the goal-line. Montour's Maddie Nazak poked it out of harm's way, helping keep the game scoreless.
The Planets had another three shots and four corners before the horn sounded. Still, nothing found the back of the net.
“You have to keep your composure and stay disciplined,” Coughenour said. “I'm pleased with the way our team played.”
After teams traded sides, Gerlach was concerned with the elements.
“The wind was all over the place down here,” Gerlach said. “A lot of it was across the field, but when it did go toward one goal, it went toward the goal that we had as an advantage first half. As soon as we got to the second half and didn't have a goal yet, I was looking around and going, 'I don't like this wind.'”
Nonetheless, Cooper prodded her marker past Vith after jockeying with a defender in the box. Sophomore Ainsley Ray assisted on the score.
With the lead, the Planets' vaunted defense did the rest.
“I like the fact that we've been in that situation,” Gerlach said. “I trust the back group. They're starting to do what it takes and to sort of fill in the shoes of the big empties that were left by those kids last year. As long as the back line stays organized and is willing to attack the ball and win those headers and not allow little balls to get slid in behind us, I like our chances.”
In a rematch of the WPIAL Class 3A final, Mars will play Plum (21-2-1) in the state semifinals on Tuesday at Shaler High School.
