C-M falls just short in WPIAL title game loss to Seneca Valley
Sydney Keremes (No. 12) wipes a tear from her eye while Krya Murphy (center) and Allison Oddi maintain stiff-upper lips during the medal ceremony after Canon-McMillan's 1-0 loss to Seneca Valley in the WPIAL Class AAA girls' soccer championship. The Lady Macs were trying for their first soccer title while the Raiders successfully defended their crown. They were the 2013 champions as well.
Allison Oddi (No. 11) of Canon-McMillan kicks the ball away from Reagen Kelly of Seneca Valley during WPIAL AAA girls' championship soccer action.
Caitlin Devries (No. 20) from Seneca Valley goes toe to toe with Sydney Keremes (No. 12) during WPIAL Class AAA girls' soccer championships
PITTSBURGH – Seneca Valley senior defender Alicia Hart is very familiar with the far east corner at Highmark Stadium. It was in that spot one year ago she took a corner kick that went off the head of teammate Caroline Miller and into the net to clinch the WPIAL Class AAA title over Peters Township.
On Friday night, it was her corner kick on that very same spot that set up junior forward Cassidy Trest’s goal in the 49th minute as the Raiders held on to defeat Canon-McMillan, 1-0, in a downpour at Highmark Stadium.
The victory is Seneca Valley’s second consecutive WPIAL Class AAA title and third in the past six years. The Raiders (22-0) advance to the PIAA playoffs where they will face WPIAL consolation-game winner, Penn-Trafford, Tuesday at a site and time to be determined, while the Big Macs (16-4-1) will face District 10 champion Erie McDowell, a 2-1 overtime winner over District 9 champion DuBois in the PIAA sub-regional.
“I was just standing (within six yards) because it’s usually (Miller) or (Lexus Lambert) who we rely on to get the headers, so I was just standing there so if something came out I’d be able to get a foot on it,” Testa said. “It was the most amazing feeling I’ve ever felt in my life.”
After the two teams traded chances on set pieces throughout the first half, Seneca Valley capitalized on its first opportunity in the second half. A ball deflected off Canon-McMillan senior goalkeeper Kyra Murphy gave the Raiders their sixth corner kick of the game.
Hart’s kick lofted in front of the net and was headed toward the top of the penalty box by junior Caroline Miller toward Testa, whose one-time shot went over the head over Murphy for a 1-0 lead.
“It must be that corner,” Hart said with a laugh. “It was the same side as last year. That moment was pretty cool. This time it happened to be Cass who put it in the goal.”
Both teams displayed a sense of urgency by trying to get the ball deep in their opponent’s territory, but neither broke through in the first 40 minutes.
Big Macs senior midfielder Sydney Keremes’ direct kick from 25 yards in the first minute sailed one foot over the net, but the team’s best chance came nine minutes later on their only corner kick of the first half. The corner taken by Allison Oddi was one-timed by sophomore midfielder Cheyenne Trest one foot wide of the net.
On a counter-attack in the 14th minute, the Raiders displayed why they have one of the top offenses in the WPIAL. Senior midfielder Kelsey O’Connor collected a pass and outran a Canon-McMillan defender 20 yards from the net. Murphy exited the goal and made a sliding kick save to keep the game scoreless.
“We knew their keeper was very good because we played them twice last year,” Seneca Valley head coach Dave Sylvester said. “We knew if we could get back behind them and play some balls down on the ground, we may get some opportunities. Their girls played really well.”
The two teams used similar 2-4-4 formations to prevent long passes from creating chances. While the Big Macs prevented those passes from leading to goals, it did create opportunities on set pieces. In the second half, C-M shifted three players up top before moving an additional midfielder as an attacker, but it did not translate to success.
Seneca Valley had a total of eight corner kicks – four in each half – while Canon-McMillan had just three in 80 minutes.
Canon-McMillan head coach Dave Derrico warned his team that allowing so many corners and set pieces would backfire against a physically imposing opponent.
“The corners did catch up to us. I said that in the first half on the sideline,” Derrico said. “If we keep giving them corners, they’ll score. They are bigger than us; they are very physical and strong. Corner kicks worried me. I warned the girls not to foul.”
The two teams traded possessions in the closing minutes, but the Raiders’ defense did not allow the Big Macs’ forwards to find space and cleared any loose balls from in front of the net.
“I didn’t expect to be standing here tonight,” Derrico said. “Yes, I am disappointed with the results, but the fact that we are here in this game and this venue, I am excited. It isn’t going to take anything to get them back into the next game. I guarantee it.”