Pine-Richland girls hold off Latrobe to win 1st playoff game since 2018

By: Jerin Steele
Monday, October 21, 2024 | 12:01 AM

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It got a little tense at the end, but the Pine-Richland girls soccer team broke a six-year playoff victory drought.

The eighth-seeded Rams scored four consecutive goals to build a lead but had to stave off a late rally by No. 9 Latrobe to earn a 4-3 win in the WPIAL Class 4A first round Monday night.

The Rams (13-5) won a playoff game for the first time since 2018 and advanced to play at top-seeded Peters Township in Thursday’s quarterfinals.

“I’m just happy for the girls,” Pine-Richland coach Jordan Wiegand said. “This was a year we wanted to make some memories for the girls because they deserve it, especially the seniors.”

Latrobe (8-6-1) was awarded a penalty with just more than a minute and a half remaining, and Robin Reilly converted it to cut the lead to one. Then shortly after the ensuing kickoff, Latrobe gained possession and Reilly got the ball and dribbled in on goal, but her attempt was thwarted by Pine-Richland goalie Shea Best.

“I’m really proud of the heart and effort to play until the final whistle,” Latrobe coach Jamie Campbell said.

“I can’t say enough about the pride that they have and how they fight together. Unfortunately, we lost a couple challenges in the air and made a few mistakes that they capitalized on, but for them to keep going and keep believing says a lot about our girls’ integrity.”

Annalyse Bauer scored in the 70th minute for Latrobe to cut the lead to 4-2.

The score was tied 1-1 at halftime, but Anna Amato gave Pine-Richland the lead five minutes into the second half when she headed in a cross from Molly Baker.

Abby Satina added another five minutes later, dribbling in from the right side before putting a shot in the bottom of the net and Charlie Olszewski scored on a corner in the 61st minute.

Satina finished with a pair of goals.

“I think there were some nerves early on, which is expected, because a lot of them had never been here before,” Wiegand said. “There was one mental lapse by us, which allowed them to score the first goal, but I was happy to see the girls rebound before halftime to equalize the game and get the momentum back in our favor.”

Latrobe got on the board first in the 23rd minute on a set piece.

Reilly, a West Virginia commit, curled in a high-arching free kick from 30 yards right to Emerson Shine, who headed it past Best.

“Robin Reilly is a set piece specialist, and Emerson has been strong in the air for us throughout the season,” Campbell said.

“She’s been struggling at rewarding herself for those challenges, but tonight she was able to put that together and it was great to see her have that success.”

After falling behind, Pine-Richland kept prodding for the equalizer and finally broke through in the 37th minute when Lily De Jesus served a low cross and Satina won a race to the back post and slammed a shot into the net.

“It was a great effort by De Jesus to draw a crowd and pull people out of position as she moved across the field,” Wiegand said. “It was heads up by Abby to run into that space and not follow (De Jesus) across the field.”

Latrobe graduates four seniors: Reilly, Maddy Pertuzzi, Brianna Hoffer and Ava Yurko. Nine girls who started Monday’s game will return next season.

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Latrobe, Pine-Richland