Plymouth Whitemarsh comes up just short in PIAA-3A opener against Easton

LOWER GWYNEDD >> Plymouth Whitemarsh’s season came to an end Tuesday evening with a 2-1 loss against Easton in the first round of the PIAA-3A state playoffs at Wissahickon High School.

The (1-2) Colonials were even closer than the one-goal difference would indicate.

The Suburban One League American Conference champions earned a penalty corner in the final minute of the game and leading scorer Ava Borkowski had the ball with the goalie on the ground. The junior worked through Easton’s defenders and lifted a shot over the goalie. The ball hit the crossbar, bounced away and the Red Rovers cleared the zone, securing a win and a spot in the quarterfinals.

“Ava made a really good choice there at the end to lift it over,” PW coach Charise Halteman said, “just slightly too high. You won’t fault her for making the right choice there.”

Borkowski gave Plymouth Whitemarsh a 1-0 lead early in the second half. She scored on a reverse chip less than three minutes after the break.

The (11-2) Red Rovers tied the game at one with 14:52 remaining and took a 2-1 lead with 7:21 on the clock. Riley McDonald scored both goals.

The Colonials had a few opportunities over the final seven minutes, but none better than the one in the waning moments.

“I thought it was a very well-played game,” Halteman said. “It was great playoff hockey. In a lot of ways I thought we controlled it as a team for large parts. They had a lot of individual talent and individual skill on that team, but I thought we played a really nice team-game together. They got two goals pretty quick and that changes things. We were still putting pressure at the end and that’s what we like to see.”

Most of PW’s scoring chances came in the first half. The team totaled nine corners and seven shots on goal in the opening 30 minutes.

The Colonials season ends after winning the league championship and reaching the District 1-3A championship game.

“It really was (a special year),” Halteman said. “It’s been since 2004 since we’ve even been able to compete in this tournament and at this level. It’s really exciting for the team. I thought my senior captains played so consistently all season long and have really been working for this for three-to-four years. For all the seniors — they led a really special team this year and we did a lot of really nice things and competed with great teams. That’s what we want to see and I hope it gives inspiration for years to come about what’s possible and how close you can come.”