Mars Edges South Park For Second Straight WPIAL Girls AA Soccer Title

By: Bruce Markey
Saturday, November 5, 2011 | 7:34 PM

In a game fitting of a #1 vs. #2 match-up, the Mars Planets defeated the South Park Eagles 2-1 to win WPIAL gold for the second consecutive year and for the third time in the last 11 years. 

These two teams came into the championship game without a loss and had boasted 33 shutouts between them so goals were going to be at a premium. 

Mars was able to score the only goal of the first half as Samantha Brueckner scored in the 23rd minute on a free kick from nearly 30 yards.  Brueckner was able to twist her shot just inside the near goalpost past Eagle goalkeeper Sierra Davis in a first half that saw Mars dominate play. 

They outshot the Eagles by a 3-2 margin but had many more scoring opportunities and had possession of the ball in South Park’s end nearly the entire first half. 

South Park came out strong in the second half and got the game-tying goal in the 41st minute, scoring on a crafty corner-kick.  South Park’s Christie Chiesa scored the goal which gave the Eagles momentum but only for the time being. 

With nearly 25 minutes left in the game, Mars took over and regained dominance the rest of the way, getting the game winning goal in the 64th minute on a goal by midfielder Amber Fichter.  Like Brueckner’s goal, Fichter scored off of a free kick except on this occasion, she was able to re-direct Bethany Perri’s free kick into the net from about 8 yards away.  The goal snuck past Davis and went in off of the goal post.  By virtue of getting to the WPIAL AA champhionship game, both teams advance to the PIAA Soccer Championship.

South Park Eagles : 0 – 1 = 1
Mars Fighting Planets : 1 – 1 = 2

FIRST HALF
23:00 – (M) Samantha Brueckner (Free Kick)

SECOND HALF
41:00 – (SP) Christie Chiesa
64:00 – (M) Amber Fichter (Bethany Perri)

SHOTS ON GOAL:
Mars – 10
South Park – 3