Shady Side Academy Upsets Rival GCC for Girls Soccer Gold

By: Bruce Markey
Saturday, November 5, 2016 | 3:22 PM

Eliza Cochran’s goal in the 28th minute proved to be all that No. 3 Shady Side Academy (16-3) needed, scoring a 1-0 upset of No. 1 Greensburg Central Catholic (19-2), at Highmark Stadium in the WPIAL Girls 1A Championship Game on Saturday afternoon.

Cochran, a Georgetown recruit, scored on a free kick from 30 yards out, bending a ball by Centurions goaltender Bella Skatell, finding the upper left corner of the net.

After the goal, the Indians would continue their attack while focusing on GCC’s Bailey Cartwright, the WPIAL’s all-time leading goal scorer. Cartwright, a Notre Dame recruit who entered with 60 goals this season including ten in the playoffs, was held scoreless and struggled to find scoring chances, as Shady Side Academy used four players to blanket her defensively.

The Centurions’ best chance would come in the 65th minute on a cross from Shannon Salley that would be redirected off of the left post by Abby Skatell.

For Shady Side Academy, it’s the first WPIAL Championship since 2013, when they beat Greensburg Central Catholic 4-2 in the title game. In that season, the Centurions went on to win the PIAA Girls Class A Championship.

During the regular season, Greensburg Central Catholic beat Shady Side Academy by 3-1 and 3-0 scores in section play. Overall, the Centurions had defeated the Indians in seven consecutive tries. Greensburg Central Catholic had their 19-game winning streak snapped and 46-game winning streak over WPIAL opponents broken, a mark that dated back to 2014.

Greensburg Central Catholic managed just seven shots on net, with Indians senior netminder Alicia McMahon stopping them all.

Shady Side Academy advances to the PIAA Girls 1A Soccer Playoffs as the No. 1 seed from District 7, with Greensburg Central Catholic and Vincentian Academy also qualifying.

On Tuesday, the Indians will meet Dubois Central Catholic, the Centurions will battle Windber and Vincentian will meet Brockway in the PIAA First Round.

Scoring Summary:
28′ – SSA – Eliza Cochran (free kick)