ROYERSFORD >> Lately, Cinderella’s been working past midnight.
Whatever it takes to make sure the slipper still fits.
Teagan Shay’s second overtime game-winner in three days came with 5:07 to play in the second extra period, giving No. 21-seeded Council Rock South an improbable 3-2 victory over No. 4 Spring-Ford, sending Golden Hawks into the District 1-4A semifinals on Tuesday.
The win also seals CR South’s first trip to PIAA 4A states since 2019.
Shay – and three other CR South starters – may only be sophomores, but they’re quickly gaining valuable experience in the biggest of moments.
“It can be overwhelming,” Shay admitted. “But I don’t even remember much about the play. The ball came to me, and I hit it.”
The shot came off a rebound from a scramble that saw Spring-Ford keeper Olivia Neild make her sixth stop of the day on the initial effort, followed by a Spring-Ford defender clearing the ball from the goal area.
But for the second time in as many CR South matches, no one could stop Shay from firing the final shot.
Shay also scored the game-winner in the overtime period against No. 5 Garnet Valley in Thursday’s second round, a similar 3-2 victory.
“We didn’t have the best record this season,” Shay admitted. “But now it’s the playoffs. We’re the underdog, and we’re showing everyone what we can do.”
The idea of even playing overtime wasn’t imaginable midway through the second half, as Spring-Ford’s suffocating defense enjoyed a 2-0 lead. But CR South junior Kathryn O’Kane won a penalty kick on a free ball in the area, allowing Cameron Bratz to cut the Spring-Ford lead in half with 22 minutes remaining.
Exactly one minute later, Bratz turned the game upside-down with an individual effort down the right wing culminating in a high shot to the same area of the goal as the preceding penalty. Suddenly, improbably, the Golden Hawks were right back in the game.
“A two-goal lead is the worst lead to have in soccer,” said Spring-Ford coach Jeff Kushner. “Because as soon as the opponent is able to get one back, they’re able to capture the momentum.”
“We came out a little too comfortable at the start of the second half. We got away from some of the things we like to do, and it took us a bit to recover after those two goals in 90 seconds.”
Spring-Ford had the two-goal lead courtesy of senior forward Meg Kurian converting a pair of outstanding passes from teammates, one a centering effort from Ava Hissong with 11 minutes to play until half and the second a through ball from Lena Ackerman to make the lead 2-0.
Spring-Ford’s defense stood tall in the early minutes of the second half, Hissong blocking a point-blank effort from the Golden Hawks’ Macy Laidlaw and Neild tipping away a low shot from O’Kane just minutes later.
Bratz’s attempt to complete the hat trick was batted away by Neild in the dying moments of the first overtime period, keeping Spring-Ford alive in the contest.
But it set the stage for Shay, paying off an extended possession just as it appeared the two sides were destined for penalties.
Now 16-3-1 on the season, Spring-Ford moves into Tuesday’s playback round. The winner of the playback game clinches a spot in 4A states, while the loser’s season will come to an end.
“It’s something we’ve worked with the entire season,” said Kushner.
“Our team goal has been to maximize our potential for every game. No matter the opponent, the situation, the next game is the most important game.”
This week saw Council Rock South make long bus trips to Downingtown West, Garnet Valley and now Spring-Ford, emerging victorious over the No. 12, No. 5, and No. 4 seeds.
They’ll stay on the road Tuesday, traveling to the winner of another quarterfinal between No. 1 Conestoga and No. 8 CB East.
“Coming on the road as a team, our team chemistry has really elevated,” said Bratz, a team captain. “It was momentum. I’ll admit, I didn’t feel mentally into it at the start, but once we got the first goal my team was pushing me, my family’s here cheering me on. That’s what motivated me.”
The goals were the 42nd and 43rd of Bratz’s high school career.
“I think we like away games,” she added. “We like coming into new territory and showing who we are.”
CR South is the lowest-seeded team remaining in the District 1-4A girls’ bracket. A 9-5-3 regular season record was enough to qualify for the playoffs, and the Golden Hawks have taken control thus far.
“I think it’s a credit to the entire Suburban One League,” said head coach Nick Heim. “Each game, you’re playing a CB East, or Neshaminy, Pennsbury, so much strong competition. But all that matters is getting into the dance.”
And staying for as long as it takes to hear the sweet song of victory.
