Methacton edges Downingtown West in shootout

DOWNINGTOWN—Downingtown West dominated Methacton in every statistical category imaginable, except the only one that matters—points on the scoreboard. After 60 minutes of regulation, and another 30 in 7 on 7 overtime, it was the No.14 Warriors with a 2-0 edge in the shootout tiebreaker to top No. 6 West 3-1.

With the win, Methacton moves on the District 1 Class AAA semi-finals against No. 2 Perkiomen Valley. West, meanwhile, falls into the playback bracket, where they will face crosstown rival Downingtown East with a state playoff berth on the line.

For the bulk of the first half, it was the Whippets putting pressure inside the circle, and Warriors’ goalie Molly Frey keeping them out of the cage. Methacton’s Rachel Alderfer finally broke the scoreless deadlock with a goal with ten minutes to go in the first half.

It was more of the same in the second half, with the Whippets controlling possessions, forcing penalty corners, but unable to convert. By game’s end, the Whippets had outshot the Warriors 27-4, and held a 26-6 edge in penalty corners. But Frey was credited with 26 saves on the afternoon, not counting the shootout.

West didn’t get on the board until just barely over a minute remained in regulation, and Claudia Jaszczak scored unassisted to send the game to an extra session.

Two extra sessions, in fact. But even with 30 minutes of overtime, the game stayed deadlocked, and the game went to a shootout tiebreaker.

In the shootout, Alexa Kratz and Alderfer scored for the Warriors, while Frey remained what she was all game—impenetrable.

Methacton 1 0 0 0 2—3
DTown West 0 1 0 0 0—1

Goals:
Methacton–Alderfer (2), Katz,
DWest—Jaszczak

Goalie Saves: Frey (M) 26, Ngyuen 4