Karns City girls soccer’s string of 5 District 9 championships ends at hands of Elk County Catholic
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Karns City's Nicole Huf (11) kicks the ball past an Elk County Catholic during the District 9 Class 1A Girls Soccer Championship on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Brookville High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Bree O'Donnell (25) and Elk County Catholic's Ana Gecl (2) go for a header during the Girls Class 1A Soccer Championship at Brookville Area High School, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Elk County Catholic players celebrates after their second goal against Karns City in the District 9 Class 1A Girls Soccer Championship on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Brookville High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Bree O'Donnell (25) and Elk County Catholic's Ana Gecl (2) compete for control of the ball in the District 9 Class 1A Girls Soccer Championship on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Brookville High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Elk County Catholic players celebrate after their victory in the District 9 Class 1A Girls Soccer Championship against Karns City on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Brookville High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Aubrey Taylor (9) hugs a teammate after the team's loss in the District 9 Class 1A Girls Soccer Championship against Elk County Catholic on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Brookville High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Carly Conto (10) chases the ball toward the goal in the District 9 Class 1A Girls Soccer Championship against Elk County Catholic on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Brookville High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Katelyn VanDyke (19) dribbles the ball as Elk County Catholic's Mary MacDonald (1) pursues her in the District 9 Class 1A Girls Soccer Championship on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Brookville High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Carly Conto (10) follows the ball as Elk County Catholic goalie Lillian Belsoe (18) moves to recover it in the District 9 Class 1A Girls Soccer Championship on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Brookville High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
BROOKVILLE — It was a year ago that Karns City girls soccer met top-seeded Elk County Catholic in the District 9 Class 1A championship game, and the Gremlins walloped the Crusaders 7-1.
It was apparent early on in Wednesday’s title-game rematch that if KC was going to claim another crown, it would have to win a very different kind of game.
ECC controlled play for much of the match, and midfielder Anna Lanzel scored three times as the No. 1 Crusaders took down the five-time defending champion and No. 2 Gremlins 4-0 at Brookville Stadium.
“Elk County played a very good game,” KC head coach Tracy Dailey said. “They finished on their scoring opportunities, and we did not.
“We had a strong class of 10 seniors last year, and they had a want-to (attitude) about them. I’m not saying that this group didn’t want it, but there was definitely a different feel to this year’s team.”
The Crusaders (15-2-2) dominated play for the first 15 minutes, but the game remained scoreless.
KC answered with several runs of its own, with junior Katelyn VanDyke spearheading several chances.
But it wasn’t until the 24th minute when a goal was scored — by Lanzel on a shot from within 10 yards that was too high for KC goalie Peyton Claypool.
Avery Stauffer made it 2-0 before halftime, finding the net on a free kick from 19 yards.
ECC head coach Michaela Cashmer said her team took the field this year with a different demeanor than it did in 2025. It yielded the second district title in program history.
“We had nine freshmen on the team last year,” she said. “There were still some nerves involved tonight, but the experience we got from playing in this game a year ago really helped us.”
Lanzel scored twice more in the second half, in the 63rd and 65th minute.
The Gremlins have a lot of speed at the top of their formation with VanDyke, Phoebe Brandon and Bree O’Donnell, who had a shot smack off the crossbar late in the first half. But that speed did not result on goals.
“Our defense played great tonight, and Lillian Belsoe (goalie, six saves) had a great game,” Cashmer said. “We changed our formation up from last year, too, from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 and the players responded well to it.”
ECC will open the PIAA tournament Tuesday against the champion from District 6. Brackets will be announced Sunday.
Claypool stopped 10 shots for the Gremlins, who are used to preparing for a first-round state playoff game this time of year. Their season ends with a record of 13-7.
“You look at our scores from this year, we were a very up-and-down team,” Dailey said. “It’s tough to have that kind of a regular season and then win a district championship.
“You can’t coach grit and determination.”
