Freeport girls soccer wins first WPIAL title, beating Burrell as Elena Jenkins ‘turns on the afterburners’

November 01, 2025 Last Updated: November 01, 2025 02:50 PM Sports

Freeport forwards Camryn Woods (22) and Cecilia Schlegel (24) bite their medals after beating Burrell in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Soccer Championship game Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Highmark Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

Matthew Brown

PITTSBURGH — Burrell didn’t want to let Camryn Woods connect for the goal that would sink it.

Throughout Saturday morning’s WPIAL Class 2A Girls Soccer Championships title match, the standout Freeport forward was frequently bracketed by a pair of Bucs defenders.

In the 73rd minute, Woods found another way to hurt them, booting ahead an expertly placed pass for sophomore striker Elena Jenkins to deposit for the lone goal in a 1-0 Yellowjackets victory at Highmark Stadium.

The win marks the school’s first district soccer crown.

“When I subbed (Elena) off for a couple minutes and I put her back in, I was like, ‘Get the ball at your feet and you run at people,’” No. 2 Freeport coach Steve Kukic said. “She didn’t exactly do that that time, but she ran as fast as she can — and she’s faster than everyone.”

“I happened to get through, and I think their defenders had a miscommunication,” Jenkins said. “I just went through them and put it in the right corner.”

Jenkins raced past a Burrell (12-7-2) defender before the ball came off her foot for a moment. Jenkins quickly backtracked and fired it past the approaching goalkeeper.

It was the first goal the Bucs allowed in four postseason games, including a 1-0 upset of No. 1 South Park in the quarterfinals.

“Cam played a great ball in, and Elena just turned on the afterburners,” Kukic said. “I think that girl probably had six or seven yards on her, and Elena just closed that distance down on the ball and just had the perfect shot.

“We needed it.”

Freeport forward Elena Jenkins (8) kicks the ball upfield against Burrell in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Soccer Championship game Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Highmark Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

Matthew Brown

Freeport will play the District 10 runner-up in the opening round of the PIAA tournament. The brackets, including sites and times for Tuesday’s first-round matchups, will be announced Sunday.

Kukic said his crew could’ve easily gotten frustrated with how the game was unfolding with a slow pace.

”Especially in an atmosphere like this,” Kukic said. “To our credit, we just kept going at it, kept going at it, kept going at it until we got one.”

“It was hard,” Jenkins said. “It was really cutting it close. Burrell’s a good team, but I knew we could come out on top.”

Freeport (18-1) had beaten the eighth-seeded Bucs 3-1 on Sept. 15 and 1-0 on Oct. 6.

“We all worked hard,” Kukic said. “It wasn’t necessarily our best game of the year, but we stuck with it. We knew they were gonna give us a tough game today. I think it was always gonna be a one- or two-goal game, no matter what.”

As for the hardware that will find its home in the ’Jackets’ trophy case?

“That’s special,” Kukic said. “We hadn’t had any soccer championships yet, boys or girls, and Kaylee (Comperatore), one of our assistant coaches, was on our last team to make it here, in 2016. So it was kind of a joke that we wanted to beat her and have a better team.

“It was just awesome to be part of it.”

Matthew Brown

The Freeport girls soccer team celebrates its first district title after beating Burrell in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Soccer Championship game Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Highmark Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

Matthew Brown

Freeport fans celebrate the Yellowjackets' win against Burrell in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Soccer Championship game Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Highmark Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

Matthew Brown

Freeport fans cheer on the team in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Soccer Championship game against Burrell Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Highmark Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

Matthew Brown

Freeport forward Elena Jenkins (8) kicks the ball upfield against Burrell in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Soccer Championship game Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Highmark Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

Matthew Brown

Freeport forward Camryn Woods (22) attempts a shot on goal in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Soccer Championship game against Burrell, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Highmark Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

Matthew Brown

Freeport's Nia DiSanti (13) competes with Burrell defender Mikayla Coury (10) for possession in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Soccer Championship game against Burrell Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Highmark Stadium. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

Matthew Brown