LOYSBURG — Throughout the first half, Karns City held on for dear life.

Then the Gremlins decided to hang on to the ball.

Karns City scored four goals in the second half Tuesday afternoon and rolled to a 4-1 PIAA Class A boys soccer tournament victory over District 5 champion Fannett-Metal at Northern Bedford High School.

The win marked the program's first-ever state tourney victory.

The game was scoreless at halftime and KC goalkeeper David Olszak made 12 saves in the first 40 minutes.

“We needed to keep the ball on the ground and play a possession-style of game, which is how we normally play,” Karns City coach Roy Parker said.

“We can't just run up and down the field playing kickball like we did in the first half. That team was very physical and very fast. We weren't going to beat them that way.”

Karns City (17-2) managed only two shots on net during the first half and did not have a serious scoring chance. The Gremlins scored on four of their six shots in the second half.

Evan McGarvey had a pair of goals — giving him 28 for the year — while Justin Ryan and Austin Murray scored one each. Ryan's goal was his 32nd, Murray's his third.

Fannett-Metal managed only three shots on net in the second half.

“Once we started controlling the ball, they couldn't defend it,” Parker said. “We whistled the ball right around them.

“Our sweeper, Andrew Johnston, and David Olszak kept us in this game in the first half, though. There's no doubt about that.”

The Gremlins will play Mercyhurst Prep — a 3-2 winner over Seton LaSalle — Saturday at a site and time to be determined.

<B>Linesville 3, A-C Valley 0 — </B>The Falcons (15-3) ended their season with this playoff defeat, bowing 25-20, 25-13, 25-7.Abby Wetzel had five points and four digs, while Meredith Snyder had five assists, five digs and five kills. Emily Quaill contributed seven assists, Kelsey Boocks six kills, Alex Linamen five digs.<B>HockeyHempfield 2, Seneca Valley 1 — </B>The Raiders outshot Hempfield 33-16, but suffered a one-goal loss at Warrendale Blade Runners. Chris Marziotto scored SV’s lone goal, a shorthanded tally assisted by Luke Reed.Austin Williams scored both Hempfield goals, one on a power play. The Spartans were 1-of-7 on the power play, the Raiders 0-for-4.