Plum girls finally notch playoff win over Mars
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Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 10:16 PM
Plum celebrates Allison Porter’s winning penalty kick in a shootout victory over Mars in the WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinals Thursday.
Plum’s Allison Porter celebrates the winning penalty kick in a shootout victory over Mars in the WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinals Thursday.
Plum's Emily Grubich and Mars' Addison Orehowsky battle for possession during a WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025.
Allison Porter was happy to get one in the win column against Mars. The Plum senior defender had felt enough heartbreak against the Planets in the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs.
Porter made the winning penalty kick after the teams played through 110 scoreless minutes Thursday night at Plum High School. The Mustangs won 5-4 on penalty kicks, with both teams seeming cool under pressure.
“It feels so relieving,” Porter said. “It’s been a battle over the past four years for our program. It was a battle, but it felt good to come out on top.”
Plum came up short against Mars in a third-place game in the WPIAL playoffs last season. From 2019 to 2021, the teams met three teams in the WPIAL finals with Mars coming out on top each time.
“Every time we play Mars it’s a battle,” said Plum coach Jamie Stewart, whose team advanced to face top-seeded Fox Chapel in the semifinals at a day, time and site to be determined. “We’ve been through a lot of these. We did this last year with them. We know that they like their corner kicks. We were trying to reduce their corner kicks and defend them well.”
Emily Grubich, Gianna Revetta, Ali Joyce and Keirstin Curry converted on PKs for Plum. Jade Breese, Maeve O’Leary, Katie Blake and Miley Gratton made their kicks for Mars.
Planets coach Blair Gerlach believed Mars was a bit unlucky to not score in regulation or overtime. Mars had a majority of the possession in overtime, but both teams struggled to get clean looks at the net.
Gerlach was happy with the defensive effort.
“I think we kept a good offensive team off the scoreboard,” Gerlach said. “I thought the kids executed well, and we were unlucky to not come away with a couple.”
Malayna Smith made a save in net on Mars’ fifth attempt to give the Mustangs a chance to win the match.
Porter delivered with a kick to the right side. She said she struck the ball how she wanted to.
“I try to stay repetitive with where I go for the mental and muscle memory,” Porter said.
Plum is happy to get over the hump and beat Mars, which has piled up WPIAL titles.
Stewart hopes the Mustangs are now on their road to Highmark Stadium. He was proud of the toughness they showed.
“We practice it,” Stewart said. “It’s about getting your mindset right. It’s tough going second because you have that extra pressure on yourself.”
More High School Soccer Girls
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• Fox Chapel’s Emily McKee wins Moe Rosensteel award as WPIAL’s top girls soccer player
• Fox Chapel’s Emily McKee named 2025 Trib HSSN Girls Soccer Player of the Year
• All-state girls soccer list announced, 12 from WPIAL selected
