Hailey Marchlewski’s winning goal sends Springdale past Bishop Guilfoyle in state quarterfinals

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Saturday, November 9, 2024 | 4:13 PM


Springdale junior forward Hailey Marchlewski said her team prepared for if things went sideways during a PIAA Class A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday at Andy Kuzneski Field in Indiana.

When the Dynamos allowed District 6 champion Bishop Guilfoyle to score a tying goal with five minutes remaining, Springdale seemed unbothered.

During a wild final four minutes, Marchlewski delivered the winning goal from 15 yards to give the Dynamos a 2-1 victory.

“It was very anxious,” said Marchlewski, who scored both goals for the Dynamos. “I feel like the last game we played, we couldn’t keep our mojo going with how we played the game. We needed to keep it collected. If we go down one, it’s OK.”

Springdale (19-1) is one win away from reaching the PIAA championship match for the fourth time and the first time since 2011. The Dynamos will play Seton La Salle in the semifinals Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.

Springdale faced its nightmare scenario late in the game. Marauders forward Emma Marasco scored in the 75th minute to tie the match. Marasco completed a run into the box by pushing a shot that snuck under Springdale keeper Baileigh Haas.

“I said there is a lot of game left,” Marchlewski said. “They scored in 30 seconds. We can do the same.”

Springdale senior forward Briana Ross drew a foul in the box a minute later. Molly Hurley had her penalty-kick attempt stopped by a lunging effort by Bishop Guilfoyle goalie Abrie Rumfola.

But the Dynamos didn’t back down. Springdale continued to press forward and earned a corner kick. Following the chaos from the corner kick, the ball came out to Marchlewski, who sent it into the back of the net.

Springdale coach Marc Bentley said he was impressed with how the Dynamos handled the end of the match.

“It speaks to their resilience,” Bentley said. “We controlled a lot of the game. Their goalie made two or three saves, and we should have been up by a few goals when they scored the tying goal, but that is soccer. We had to stay calm.”

Marchlewski opened the match by scoring in the 31st minute. She carried the ball across the field before settling in the corner.

She went to hit a cross in Hurley’s direction, but it found its way into the net instead.

“My mindset was looking up and finding anyone there to cross it to,” Marchlewski said. “I saw Molly Hurley in the back post and meant to cross it to her, but it swerved into the back post.”

The Marauders (17-3-1) didn’t find many chances in the first half. Bishop Guilfoyle got its first shot on net right before the end of the first half.

Marauders coach Joe DeLeo said they changed their tactics to slow Marchlewski in the second half.

“We dropped one of our forwards back to stop her,” DeLeo said. “She was able to control the play through the middle a lot. That helped in the second half. She wasn’t able to make as many runs in the second half.”

Marchlewski was able to find the space to operate when she needed to. Now, Marchlewski’s hoping to help the program continue on a path to its first state title.

“I feel like it gives us more motivation to push on,” Marchlewski said. “The sky’s the limit for this team.”

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