Fox Chapel girls soccer team’s hopes not dashed by loss in WPIAL finals
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Saturday, November 9, 2024 | 11:01 AM
Fox Chapel’s Emily McKee battles South Fayette’s Maria Gabriel for possession during the WPIAL Class 3A championship game Nov. 2 at Highmark Stadium.
Fox Chapel’s Antonia Linzoain battles South Fayette’s Harper Zapf for possession during the WPIAL Class 3A championship game Nov. 2 at Highmark Stadium.
The Fox Chapel girls soccer team clearly had hope after losing to South Fayette in the WPIAL Class 3A title game at Highmark Stadium.
The Foxes wanted another shot at the now two-time defending champion Lions in the PIAA playoffs. Fox Chapel took a step toward that goal by beating District 6 champion Hollidaysburg, 5-1, to open the state playoffs.
The Foxes were scheduled to play District 3 champion Lower Dauphin on Nov. 9 in a game that was too late for this edition.
The Lions also won their first-round match, so a WPIAL title rematch was still in the cards heading into the quarterfinals.
“I already told the girls, a lot of girls wish they could be in the position they were in,” Fox Chapel coach Carlo Prati said. “They should keep their heads up high. We are proud of what they accomplished this season. We are still alive for a state championship.”
Against Hollidaysburg, Fox Chapel (19-4) never let the District 6 champions get settled. The Foxes scored twice in the first 17 minutes. Antonia Linzoain opened the scoring with a goal in the fifth minute.
Paige Solomon added the second goal for Fox Chapel on an assist from Emily McKee. Grimsley, who finished with an assist, also scored twice for the Foxes.
It was a big bounce-back win for Fox Chapel. The Foxes had struggled to get things going in the WPIAL title match against South Fayette.
A big part of the problem for the Foxes during their 4-0 loss was that South Fayette scored first when Mia Deramo hammered in a rebound 11 minutes into the match.
The Lions’ physical defense wore down Fox Chapel throughout the match.
“Every time we started getting momentum, it was foul after foul,” Prati said. “That was their game plan from the start. It was hard to get moving when we were getting fouled over and over again. We will probably see them again in the states, and we need to regroup.”
Tags: Fox Chapel
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