Freshman Felder lifts GCC over Windber in PIAA soccer playoffs

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, November 11, 2017 | 8:06 PM

SOMERSET – Greensburg Central Catholic girls soccer coach Ashley Davis said she wasn't too concerned her team was locked in another close battle Saturday.

The Centurions are accustomed to playing them. They've played in 10 one-goal games this season and won eight.

The only difference in the PIAA Class A quarterfinal contest against Windber at Somerset High School was GCC prefers scoring early.

But for the first 72 minutes, neither the Centurions nor District 5 champion Ramblers were able to mount much of an offense as both defenses dominated.

But with the clock ticking toward the eight-minute mark, GCC finally cashed in.

Freshman Samantha Felder broke free down the right side, taking a nifty pass from senior Sydney Ward, and she beat Windber junior goalkeeper Marideth Tokarsky with a shot to the left corner of the net for the game's only score and a 1-0 victory.

The win by the WPIAL champion Centurions (17-3) puts them in the semifinals Tuesday against a familiar foe — section rival Shady Side Academy. This will be the fourth meeting between the teams. GCC won two of the three previous games, including 1-0 in the WPIAL final.

Shady Side Academy defeated Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, 2-1, in the other quarterfinal match.

This also is the second consecutive year GCC ended Windber's season. It defeated the Ramblers, 7-0, in 2016.

This game was much closer on a frigid, windy day.

“I really thought the majority of the game we were the better team,” Windber coach B. Paul Buza said. “We outhustled them, and we controlled the majority of the game.”

Davis disagreed with Buza's assessment.

“I don't think that was the case at all,” Davis said. “I felt we carried the play and possessed the ball longer.

“I had faith in our girls that if we continued to play our game and possess the ball that we'd put one in. We're not a high-scoring team. We take advantage of our opportunities.”

Davis said Windber (21-2) was one of the better defenses her team faced.

“They were all quick and had good touch on the ball,” Davis said. “They definitely challenged our offense.”

Felder added: “They had a good defense, but we kept pushing hard and worked together to push through. My eyes lit up when I saw the opening.”

Windber put nine shots on goal, but none too difficult for GCC junior goalkeeper Bella Skatell to handle.

GCC had more scoring opportunities and had 13 shots at Tokarsky. It also had a shot bounce off the top of the net in the second half.

Earlier in the second half, Ward and Tokarsky smacked heads.

Both players had to leave the game because both suffered cuts. Ward had a gash by her left eye that she said will require stitches.

Both players returned after getting bandaged.

While the Ramblers' season comes to an end, GCC hopes another win sends it to the PIAA finals in Hershey on Nov. 18.

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.

Tags: Greensburg C.C.