Tyrone girls edge Cambria Heights in penalty kicks
· Yahoo Sports
PATTON, Pa. – Cambria Heights girls soccer coach Greg Galinis knew his team faced a tall order as the result of losing several key contributing players to graduation.
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"It was one of those seasons where we felt like from last year's group that we did lose a lot of talented players. (Even so) I felt like we could be a contender," he said after Cambria Heights dropped a 0-0 (2-0 penalty kicks) decision to fifth-seeded Tyrone in a District 6 Class 2A girls soccer semifinal playoff match at AmeriServ Bank Field Monday night.
"We did not anticipate being the No. 1 seed. I thought we were a playoff-caliber team. I didn't expect to have the one seed, but unfortunately, it didn't help us tonight."
Fifth-seeded Tyrone, one of three lower-seeded teams that advanced to the round of four, will face No. 6 seed Central Cambria in the title match Thursday. The Red Devils upheld their end of the championship draw after they blanked Bald Eagle Area 1-0.
"We are ready to go," Tyrone coach Rita Kendziora said. "These girls deserve it."
Top-seeded Cambria Heights (13-5-0) maintained a distinct territorial edge throughout regulation and extra time. Golden Eagles goalkeeper Pyper Sparklin prevented the Highlanders from finding the back of the net, however.
"Our goalkeeper, Piper Sparklin, is so good," Kendziora said. "She is so confident. She has really stepped up into the role. We've asked her to be a captain, as well, and communicating back there. She keeps our defense alive, and she cheers on her team the whole time."
"I thought we played an amazing 80 minutes, plus 30 additional minutes," Galinis said. "For 110 minutes, I thought we played very well. We just came out of the PK shootout (and) they did better than we did."
Sparklin stopped 17 shots during regulation and extra time.
"We had a lot of opportunities," Kendziora said. "We just couldn't be composed in front of the net, but that's OK because I knew when the moment came, even if it went to PKs, they would be composed and finish it."
None of this is to say Sparklin did not receive help from outside sources. Cambria Heights shot first in the penalty kick shootout, and Ella Lamb struck the crossbar behind Sparklin.
"We knew she was an amazing goalkeeper," Galinis said. "She presses up high and doesn't give you much. It was tough to get one in on her, and we didn't."
Highlanders goalkeeper Emma Gilbey stopped senior Alli Blaska to keep the match scoreless.
Sparklin denied junior Elyce Hillyer, and Tyrone senior Emily Houghton beat Gilbey with a shot to her right to put the Golden Eagles ahead 1-0.
Sophomore Mele Lavelua hit another crossbar, and Tyrone junior Kadence Berry tucked a shot past Gilbey just below the crossbar to put her team ahead 2-0.
Cambria Heights needed a goal to stay in contention in the best-of-five shootout. Sparklin thwarted junior Emma Bender's attempt and sewed up the improbable victory.
"It's something we practice, the PK shootout," Galinis said. "We felt confident. We just didn't have it tonight."