After slow start, defending WPIAL champion Freeport girls soccer fires past Deer Lakes into semifinals
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Freeport's Cecelia Schlegel (24) scores against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Gabriella Pavlina (13) tries to score against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Gabriella Pavlina (13) tries to score against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Gabriella Pavlina (13) tries to score against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Maggie Conger (30) attempts to score on a header against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Ella McConville (5) scores a goal against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Ella McConville (5) scores a goal against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Maggie Conger (30) fights for a score attempt against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Maggie Conger (30) passes the ball against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Cecelia Schlegel (24) attempts to score against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Maggie Conger (30) fights for a score attempt against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Gabriella Pavlina (13) fights off a Deer Lakes player for control of the ball in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Cecelia Schlegel (24) attempts to score over Deer Lakes defenders n a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Cecelia Schlegel (24) attempts to score against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Brinley Sullivan (1) attempts to score against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport players celebrate a goal against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Ella McConville (5) watches as her shot goes in the net against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Cecelia Schlegel (24) attempts to score against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport players celebrate a goal against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Ella McConville (5) celebrates her goal against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport players spend a moment before the start of the game against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Natalia Urik (27) fights for the ball against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport's Natalia Urik (27) fights for the ball against Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinal game Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Freeport High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
BUFFALO TWP — For 62 minutes, Freeport shot the ball toward the net, around the net and over the net.
Just not into the net.
Junior midfielder Ella McConville changed all of that in the 63rd minute, drilling a shot home from directly in front of the goal after receiving a cross from Maggie Conger. That was the first of three Yellowjacket goals in less than three minutes as the defending WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer champions secured a 3-0 quarterfinal win over Deer Lakes on Wednesday night at Freeport Stadium.
“We had momentum for most of the game,” junior forward Cecelia Schlegel said. “We were getting a little nervous because we couldn’t score, but the confidence was always there.”
No. 2-seed Freeport (15-2-1) advances to the semifinal round Monday against No. 3 Avonworth, a 2-0 winner over No. 11 North Catholic, at a site and time to be determined. No. 7 Deer Lakes ended its season at 13-6-1, managing only two shots on net.
The teams split their regular season meetings — Freeport winning the first matchup 4-1, Deer Lakes the second 1-0.
“We scored a late goal (in the 64th minute) to win our last game with them, and this was turning into that same type of game,” Lancers head coach Frank Accetta said. “Only this time, they got the goal.”
And the Yellowjackets added to it.
Schlegel was all alone along the left sideline when she delivered a high, hooking shot from 30 yards out that sailed over the head of Lancers goalkeeper Capri Bogan and into the back of the net. That goal occurred exactly one minute after McConville’s tally.
Conger assisted on that goal, as well.
“I was kicking the ball over the net all night, from closer in,” Schlegel said. “I decided to try one from farther away, and it worked out.”
McConville scored her second goal in the 65th minute. She accepted a pass from Schlegel, danced around a pair of defenders and put the ball in from roughly 15 yards out.
“We have the ability to stay calm and positive as a team, and that paid off tonight,” McConville said. “On my first goal, Maggie put the ball right on my foot, right in front of the net. All I had to do was put it in.”
Freeport had 11 shots on net in the contest, seven of them coming in the first half. Both teams had one corner kick.
The Yellowjackets’ best scoring chance of the half occurred in the eighth minute. Schlegel won a battle for a loose ball with Bogan and got behind her, but a Deer Lakes defender blocked her shot.
Moments later, Deer Lakes senior forward Tessa Hollibaugh beat a Freeport defender down the right side, but her hard shot whistled just to the right of the net.
“I thought we came out a little flat in the first half, to be honest,” Freeport head coach Steve Kukic said. “We weren’t playing our best soccer at that point. I was a little fiery with the girls at halftime.
“Once we broke through in the second half, we seemed to play with a lot more fire.”
Schlegel and Conger have 21 goals each on the season for the Yellowjackets. McConville has 12 goals and 20 assists.
Sophomore goalkeeper Sophia Crawford got the shutout. Freeport has allowed only 12 goals all season.
Deer Lakes had only 15 players on its roster this season.
“I’m proud of our girls, the way they fought all year,” Accetta said. “Freeport is the defending WPIAL champ for a reason. You’re only gonna hold them down for so long.”
