Baillargeon’s heroics pushes Bishop Shanahan into District 1-3A final

DOWNINGTOWN >> “Sage Baillargeon is the hero tonight for sure.”

Bishop Shanahan coach Ken Schmidt was succint in his opening post-match thoughts on Tuesday. His junior goalkeeper made a huge penalty kick in overtime and three more during the PK session to lead Bishop Shanahan into its first District 1 Class 3A Girls Soccer Final by downing Villa Joseph Marie, 3-1 in kicks after being knotted up at 1-1 after regulation and overtime at Jack Mancini Field.

The sixth-seeded Eagles (12-5-2) will take on top-seeded Upper Perkiomen in the final on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Norristown High School.

“We worked on it a lot,” said Ken Schmidt. “We rotated keepers and took a lot of shots in the last few days. Sage is incredible. She is one of the best goalkeepers I’ve seen in my life.”

After regulation ended 1-1, it was off to overtime they went. Both teams kept the lockdown posture and kept the game scoreless after the midway point of the first half. Villa Joseph Marie outshot Shanahan, 4-1 in OT. They forced the first good chance when Maddie Goldner sent a shot over the top.

But, the best chance came late in the first session. VJM received a penalty kick after a foul was called inside the box.
Kiley Johnson stepped up for the Jems and sent her effort low to the right side of Baillargeon. She dove to the post as the ball nestled into her arms and the game continued on.

“I have little way I can read people, I can watch their hips,” said Baillargeon. “I said I’m going right, no matter what happens, and I got it.”

There wasn’t much in the way of offense for the remainder of the overtime periods, so a trip to the district final and a berth in the state playoffs would be decided from the penalty spot.

Madelyn Grigalonis scored to open the PK session. Goldner was stopped by Baillargeon to earn a 1-0 lead. Alexa Callahan missed on Shanahan’s second attempt. Becca Morein had her attempt hit the underside of the bar, but it was ruled a goal and Villa tied it up, 1-1.

After misses by both teams in the third round, Baillargeon turned from stopper to shooter. She slammed the into the upper part of the net for a 3-2 lead.

Charlotte Hess was stopped, so if Gretchen Wilmer scored, the game would be over. She calmly delivered and then braced for the rush of her teammates in celebration.

“I don’t even know how to feel right now. I have so much adrenaline in me because we’ve been working so much on PKs. Once I knew we were going to kicks, I said this is it, we got this,” said Baillargeon.

For Villa Joe, the disappointment was very visible.

“It was an ugly soccer game, fought hard by both teams,” said Villa Joseph Marie coach Rich Finneyfrock. “I wish them the best of luck. They were better in the five kicks than we were. Penalty kicks didn’t surprise me much in so far as going going to them. I don’t know why my girls changed their minds about who was taking them and how to take them.”

Both teams came in tremendous form, riding six-game unbeaten streaks each.

The Jems converted on a set piece to take the lead with 22:08 left. Shanahan was called for a foul just outside the penalty area. Faith Sullivan took the free kick and buried it over Baillargeon and into the top left corner of the net for the 1-0 lead.

That advantage lasted just three minutes. A long ball into the bounced between the goalie Makenzie Van Arsdale and her defense. Callahan latched onto it and knocked it into the net to tie it up. It remained that way until penalty kicks.

“Seasons are so long,” said Schmidt. “They start in the summer and you worh through so many ups and downs. We now won seven games in a row and we’re going to Norristown for a district championship. Me and my assistant coach Ian McBrearty we told them the whole time, you can do this. We believe in you. So, even sometimes when the girls weren’t sure, we let them know that they had a chance to do this.”