South Park scores 5 unanswered goals to top Freeport in WPIAL quarterfinals

By: Jerin Steele
Saturday, October 28, 2023 | 4:30 PM

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What started out as a chance for Freeport to increase its lead turned into the spark South Park needed to catch fire.

In the 19th minute, the Yellowjackets had a free kick just to the right of South Park’s 18-yard box, and Camryn Woods put in a strong cross, but the ball bounced around and ended up coming to the foot of South Park’s Faith Newell for a clear break the other way.

Newell finished her chance for the first of five unanswered goals by the fifth-seeded Eagles in a 5-1 win over No. 4 Freeport in the WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinals Saturday afternoon.

“That goal switched the momentum,” Freeport coach Joe Treglia said. “I think we were a little deflated after that because we were pressing them the first 15 minutes. If we get a second goal when we had them on their heels, I think the game would’ve been different, but, unfortunately, we didn’t. They came back and got one, which leveled the playing field, and they built on that momentum.”

The Eagles (15-5) advanced to play top-seeded Avonworth in the semifinals Tuesday. Freeport finished 15-2-1.

Freeport got off to a great start thanks to the efforts of Nia Disanti.

In the sixth minute, Disanti pressured South Park keeper Gianna Cardillo, who had the ball at her feet. That led to the ball trickling out to Woods, who placed a shot into the bottom-right corner of the net.

Newell’s goal energized the Eagles, and they struck again in the 32nd minute.

A clearance attempt by Freeport ended up at the foot of Emelyn Schlater, and she put a strike into the top-right corner to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead going into halftime.

“That’s what this group has been doing all year. Fighting adversity,” South Park coach TJ O’Brien said. “We turned it around instantly. You never want to give up the first goal the way we did with a keeper turnover, but (Cardillo) turned around and bailed us out with a double save, and then, all a sudden, the game flipped completely.”

The Eagles put their stamp on the match in the second half with three goals in the first 13 minutes.

Arianna Beck slammed home a low shot from 20 yards in the 43rd minute. Five minutes later, Taylor Vargo added another after a good run down the left side.

In the 53rd minute, Avery Rispoli finished off a corner kick from Alicia Riberich to make it 5-1.

“After the way we started off the second half, getting one early and pouring it on from there, it comes down to controlling the game and I thought our girls did a good job with that today,” O’Brien said.

The Yellowjackets graduate four seniors: Lorelei Buterbaugh, Ava Slaughenhaupt, Gianna Menzietti and Emerson DeWitt. They leave with a section title and helped Freeport appear in the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season.

“I’m proud of the girls,” Treglia said. “I’m just as excited for next year. We have a lot of eighth graders coming up, and it’s a talented class. We return a lot, so I think this team will be back next year and be stronger.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Freeport, South Park