Dowingtown East dominates in 3-0 win in first round of states
By Bryan Davis
bdavis@medianewsgroup.com
@btdavis25 on Twitter
DOWNINGTOWN >> The Downingtown East girls’ soccer team came into Tuesday’s PIAA 4A opening-round game against Carlisle as one of the hottest teams in Pennsylvania, riding a 13-game winning streak. Their roll continued and it may not stop until there’s a big celebration at Hersheypark Stadium a week from Friday.
The Cougars (19-3-1) scored mere minutes into the game and Madison Shumate added a pair of second-half tallies en route to a 3-0 victory at DiSerafino Stadium. East’s 14th consecutive victory puts them into the quarterfinals against the second-place team from District 11 Nazareth, a 1-0 winner over Delaware Valley, at a time and place to be determined Saturday.
“I think since the first time we played Owen J. (a 2-1 win on Oct. 8) our defense has started to solidify and because our defense has been so solid, that has allowed our midfielders to control the midfield and then our forwards to do things in the attacking third,” said East coach Jason Luzak.
The Cougars’ attack came to life from the opening whistle, and while the sound of it still lingered in the air, they took the lead. Just two minutes in, they worked a short corner, Carlisle tried to put its defenders up on an offside trap, but it didn’t work. Karly Murlless was left all alone on the right side and easily headed in the cross past goalie Madalyn Brysmesser for the dream start.
“Our goal was to score in the first five minutes and come out energetic because we usually have a slow start and we’re more of a second-half team,” said Shumate. “We just wanted to out strong and competitive, which I think we did. “Karly had a perfect header off a short corner we’ve been praticing a lot and was finally able to execute. I’m very proud of us. It took a lot of weight off of us and we were able to relax.”
The Cougars held the better of play for most of the half, they outshot the Thundering Herd, 8-2, in the first half and 18-5 for the game. Caroline McDonald almost had a highlight reel goal, controlling a pass at midfield and setting sail on a 40-yard run towards goal, but she blasted her shot over the top.
Carlisle (17-5) did not threatened East goalkeeper Lillian Matte much. Their best chance of the first 40 minutes came off an indirect free kick from 25-yards out. However, leading scorer Sejia Podzic’s effort sailed over the crossbar, keeping the lead at one heading into the break.
The second half began with the Cougars once again dominating the flow of the game, but unable to get that all-important second goal.
In the final 10 minutes, Carlisle began to get a toehold into the contest and came close to equalizing as a ball in the box was pinwheeling around and a shot was cleared off the line by an East defender.
East peppered the Carlisle goal with shots, but most of them was directly at Brymesser, resulting in easy saves.
“I think we’re going to work on finishing,” said Luzak. “That will be our theme for the next couple of days.”
With under five minutes left, East got its insuance goal. McDonald sent a lovely through pass that traveled about 20 yards before Shumate ran onto it and powered a shot past a helpless Brymesser for a 2-0 lead.
“Caroline and I have worked very well this year and I feel we challenge each other and help each other in the final third,” said Shumate.
Seconds later, Shumate got her second and the team’s third from a very special helper. Shumate one-timed a pass from her younger sister Kylie to put an exclamation point on the evening.
“That was from my sister,” said a beaming Shumate. “That was our second sis assist, that’s what we call it. I love playing with her and to have my high school experience with her on the field.”
The Thundering Herd wrapped up their season with the most wins in program history, a feat that coach Greg Clippinger said may take a little bit to appreciate.
“We had a great year, we reached 17 wins which is something we haven’t done before,” he said. “We hurt right now, especially the seniors, but give them a couple of weeks and they will come to appreciate it.”
Downingtown East 3, Carlisle 0
Carlisle 0 0 — 0
Downingtown East 1 2 — 3
Downingtown East goals: Murlless, Shumate 2.
Goalie saves: Brymesser (C) 9; Matte (DE) 1.
