USC Dethrones Peters Twp As WPIAL Class AAA Girls Soccer Queens
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Saturday, November 5, 2011 | 10:08 PM
The rivalry between the Upper St. Clair Panthers and the Peters Township Indians spilled over from football into both the Girls and Boys AAA Soccer Championships. Baldwin High School was the venue for both title matches, and the ladies were up first.
Peters Twp came in as the defending AAA Champions, and they had a couple of early scoring chances, but in the 5th minute, Carley Bogan of the Panthers put a corner kick right in front of the goal mouth and redirected by Katey Woistman past Indians' netminder Megan Parker to give USC a 1-0 lead.
PT would answer in the 16th minute as a USC foul led to a free kick, which was taken by freshman halfback Laurel Carpenter from 45 yards out. Carpenter put the shot right on net, and Panthers' Goalie Jocelyn Alfera got a hand on the ball, but could not secure it and Brooke Smith put in the rebound to tie the score.
PT would take the lead in the 34th minute as a corner kick taken by Carpenter would also find its way in front of the USC net and halfback Rachel Trocinski would kick the ball in past Alfera to give the Indians he edge.
That goal, however, would light a fire under Bogan for USC because almost three minutes later, she would take a pass and rush past the PT defense ad drive a shot past Parker to knot the game at 2 goals apiece near the end of the 1st half.
The Indians would have two great chances early in the 2nd half as a Carpenter shot would hit the crossbar, and in the 61st minute, Nicole Hume put a shot from close range which Alfara was able to turn aside. That save would loom large for USC because two minutes later, Panthers senior fullback Val Repischak took a shot from about 45 yards out which caught Parker off guard, and ball would sail right into the net to give USC a 3-2 advantage.
PT would continue to keep the pressure going in an attempt to tie the game, but USC would turn them away each time to secure the victory and the Girls' AAA Title.
Now the Panthers and the Indians by virtue of making the semifinals have also qualified for the PIAA State Playoffs along with North Allegheny and Penn-Trafford. USC's record now stands at 18-2-1 going into the State Playoffs while Peters stands at 17-3-1.
USC had the edge in shots 6-5 over Peters also the had the edge in Corner Kick opportunities, 4-2.
Upper St. Clair Panthers : 2 – 1 = 3
Peters Township Indians : 2 – 0 = 2
Tags: Upper St. Clair
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