Three 2nd-half goals lift Plymouth Whitemarsh over Souderton in District 1-4A opener
WHITEMARSH >> Plymouth Whitemarsh broke a scoreless tie early in the second half and added two more insurance goals to beat Souderton, 3-0, in the first round of the District 1-4A playoffs Tuesday night at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School.
“We knew it would be tough,” PW coach Ryan Zehren said. “We prepped for (Souderton). We knew they were a good team. An 18 seed for them would probably more appropriately be a top 10 seed, but our girls — they never backed down from a challenge all year.”
The 15th seeded Colonials got on the board in the 46th minute when defender Ava Schreiber scored on a long shot from 45 yards away that grazed off Souderton goalie Morgan Molyneaux’s fingertips.
“I just get mad when I see the ball and I just fire it,” Schreiber said. “I got lucky it went in. I’m just going to boot it up and pray for the best.”
PW doubled its lead in the 66th minute. Mackenzie Leszczynski threw the ball into the box from the sideline and Kaitlyn Flanagan headed it to Natalie Lannie. Lannie put the ball just under the crossbar to make it 2-0.
Fiona Gooneratne sealed the game in the 77th minute. She received a pass from Leszczynski in the middle of the field and ripped a shot that got blocked. It came right back to her and she found the back of the net.
“People don’t always give our offense the benefit of the doubt,” Zehren said, “but they’re a solid group of girls. They’re fast, they’re athletic, they work well with each other. Everybody says that we’re a defensive team, but our offense deserves credit. Putting up three goals against the defending state champions — they deserve credit.
“Our offense really came to play today. (Souderton’s) defense is solid as well. We had some ideas of where to make our runs to, play some balls, find some soft spots. It took a while, but once that first goal came it gave our offense a little more confidence to push forward and we buried the chances that we had. That’s what you have to do in the playoffs — take advantage of the chances that you get because there may not be many because every team from here on out is going to be good.”
The Colonials posted a shutout for the 11th times in their last 12 games.
“Our defense always plays phenomenally,” Zehren said. “They rise to the occasion. They don’t care who they’re playing against — defending state champions — it doesn’t matter.”
“I give credit to our whole defense,” Schreiber said. “Kaitlyn Flanagan, Bella McNew, Gabby Cooper and me — we’re not the heart of the team but we like to keep the shutouts going.”
The defending 4A state champions and 18th seeded Indians had a few opportunities to score but couldn’t capitalize. In the first half a free kick from 27 yards away went wide right. In the second half they had two chances inside the box, but PW defenders Cooper and McNew got in front to turn them away.
Plymouth Whitemarsh will face No. 2 Boyertown Thursday.
Souderton’s season ends after the loss.
