Perkiomen Valley builds early lead on Central Bucks East, advances to semifinals
EAST COVENTRY >> Get ahead early and hold on for dear life.
It might have not been the strategy No. 4 Perkiomen Valley took into its game against No. 5 Central Bucks East in Friday’s District 1-3A quarterfinal, but it worked.
The Vikings took a two-goal lead into halftime and held on for a 2-1 win to qualify for states and make a district semifinal appearance for the second year in a row.
Perk Valley will host Downingtown West, a 7-0 winner over top-seeded Garnet Valley, in Tuesday’s semifinal. CB East heads to the district playback bracket, needing a win over Garnet Valley to make its fourth straight appearance in states.
“We’ve played some really good teams, and I think we’ve played really well against them,” PV senior Kelly Baitinger said. “Even though it was close, it shows that we can push forward and through it.”
Baitinger, who PV coach Erik Enters described has having the most complete game of her career, opened the game’s scoring less than seven minutes in off an assist by fellow senior Katie Wuerstle.
Wuerstle closed out the second half with a breakaway score, set up by a long pass from Teresa Bartkowski, to put the Vikings ahead 2-0 at the break.
“It’s very important,” Baitinger said of the quick start. “You want to make sure the other team doesn’t have time to set up. Really catch them off guard, make quick passes, so you can literally pass around them up the field and get that goal really fast.”
CB East was the aggressor in the second half, forcing four corners after no corner opportunities in the first 30 minutes of play. CB East cut the deficit to 2-1 with 16:47 left in the game, when Emma Donnelly tipped in a ball from Kenzie Lever on a corner.
PV goalie Ashley Derrick did not face a shot in the first half, but needed to make three saves late. She came out of goal to make a save with just more than two minutes left, stopping the last real chance for CB East. Emily Bullard was also impressive in goal for CB East, making 12 saves in the game, including nine in the first half.
