Yoder’s 2nd-half goal sends Souderton past Penncrest, into District 1-4A final

FRANCONIA >> Taylor Yoder could sense the work the Souderton girls soccer team was putting in early in the second half pushing forward and keeping the ball in the Penncrest half of the field was leading towards an end to the sides’ scoreless stalemate.

“I could feel that someone was going to get it,” she said. “I didn’t think it was going to be, but I knew that it was coming.”

It ended up being Yoder that put the eighth-seeded Indians in the lead in Tuesday night’s District 1-4A semifinal, the sophomore midfielder running on to a cross by Hannah Alderfer a knocking the ball past Lions goalkeeper Bryn McLaughlin with 21:50 remaining.

“It honestly just kind of got through and I think it bounced off my knee, Yoder said. “It kind of just I happened to be in the right spot. Hannah did all the work, I just happened to be there.”

Big Red’s stellar defense made sure a single goal stood up for a third consecutive postseason match as Souderton edged the No. 20 Lions 1-0 and advanced to Saturday’s district championship game.

“The momentum was building,” said Indians coach Lindsy Jones. “I almost subbed and then I was like no the momentum’s (building),  one of the assistant coaches (was) like ‘There’s good momentum.’ I’m like, ‘You’re right, you’re right.’ So we pulled the subs. And it kept building and building and the intensity and the crowd, it all helped — pushed through.”

Souderton (13-2-6) earned its first District 1 final appearance since the 2005 spring season and faces Conestoga 4 p.m. Saturday at Upper Merion. The No. 2 Pioneers — which defeated No. 3 Pennridge 2-1 in Tuesday’s other semifinal — is the fourth straight Central League side Big Red has faced this tournament.

“It means that the efforts that we put off the field and on the field is being rewards, honestly,” said Jones of reaching the district final. “Finally getting noticed for that. Yes, the season didn’t go the way we wanted, we were hoping for a league (title), No. 1 in our league, so I think it’s just showing on a bigger scale — even outside of our league — we can hang, we can do it.”

Penncrest (10-6-4) visits Pennridge in the third-place game Friday. Both teams have already qualified for the PIAA tournament.

Lions coach Mike DeLeo felt a handball should have been called on Aldefer as she settled a bouncing ball just outside the 18-yard box. But there was no whistle and Alderfer drove towards the endline and delivered a cross Yoder put into the net.

“I have no problems about losing, I really don’t, but the ball clearly bounced up, hit her hand, repossessed it and played it back in and the guy said well she didn’t mean it on purpose,” DeLeo said. “It’s irrelevant, the ball, her hand was clearly extended and it is what it is — so I have to just get past that. But when you play these away games you have to be — it is what it is.”

Penncrest was aiming for a third consecutive upset to reach a district final for a three straight seasons — the Lions made the Class 3A title game in both 2016 and 2017 — but ended up becoming another team that just could not crack the Indians, who have collected 15 shutouts and allowed just eight goals this season.

“They were a quality side, they’re big, they’re fast, they possess the ball really well,” said DeLeo of Souderton. “I thought my girls did a great job keeping their shape. Even in the final minutes, we had a good look at goal. But got to give them credit, they defended us well, we just had to be patient for that opportunity to finish and we really didn’t get a good look. We got not many good looks at goal and credit to them.”

Kate Sparling came close to giving Penncrest the opening goal in the first half, stepping into a cleared ball and hitting a long-distance shot that got over Souderton keeper Lindsey Pazdziorko but hit off the crossbar. Before the ball could bounce into the net, Pazdziorko back-handed it away from the goal line then corralled it.

“That was intense,” Jones said. “Lindsey has been like that all season. She is just a rock back there. She will do anything to prevent that ball going though if she can. She’s had four goals against her all season.”

Kenna Kaut got another first-half opportunity for the Lions but her volley in the box after a corner kick was directed right to Pazdziorko.

Souderton threatened to score in the half’s last minute when a volley from Averie Doughty was parried over the crossbar by McLaughlin.

In the final minutes, the Lions got their best chance to equalize when Sarah Hughes got an open run towards the goal but her shot went high over the crossbar.