Gallagher’s stops send Boyertown past Conestoga on PKs for district title game trip

BOYERTOWN >> The goalkeeper is at a definite disadvantage when a soccer match comes down to penalty kicks. But Boyertown’s Madison Gallagher stopped three in a row when it counted and the Bears advanced to the District 1-4A championship match with a 3-2 advantage in penalty kicks over visiting Conestoga after 110 minutes of 0-0 soccer.

Boyertown (22-1) will make its first district finals appearance on Saturday at 4 p.m. against the winner of Tuesday night’s contest between Pennridge and North Penn. Conestoga (17-3) will play the loser for third place on Friday.

“Coach told us this is the first time a Boyertown team has made it to the district championship,” said senior keeper Gallagher, who made 11 saves through regulation and overtime play. “We have a long, long legacy of great teams in Boyertown. It’s a great accomplishment. But we haven’t won anything yet.”

Calista Courtney connected on the first penalty kick for the third-seeded Pioneers and Sam Goffice tied it for the second-seeded Bears. Then Sophia Koziol put Conestoga on top. But Gallagher stopped three in a row after that — the last a one-handed save with the ball ricocheting off the underside of the crossbar.

Conestoga keeper Caroline Klaiber stopped the Bears’ third shot, but Camilla Kuever tied the shootout at 2-2 and sophomore Emma Beidler knocked in the game-winner.

“You have to stop their shots. You have to make your shots,” said Gallagher. “You have to stay compact with your emotions. When I’m in there, I kind of look at the girl. I close my eyes, and when I open them, my body just feels which way to go.”

“She’s an extraordinary young lady,” Boyertown coach Bill Goddard said of Gallagher. “She’s committed to the Naval Academy. That shows a lot about her character. She’s a difference maker for us.”

Both teams had their chances through regulation play and a pair of 15-minute overtime periods. The Bears had a few more thanks to nine corner kicks to zero for the Pioneers.

Boyertown’s Mikayla Moyer put a free kick on goal two minutes into the contest, but Klaiber came up with one of her five first-half (six total) saves. Play went back-and-forth throughout until the Bears had a chance to win it late in regulation, but a free kick from just beyond the top of the box was blocked by the defensive wall and a follow-up try went wide left.

Conestoga had a good opportunity early in the first overtime session, but Gallagher knocked down a close-in shot by Makenzie Coleman and the Boyertown keeper came up with another big save in the second OT after a long run down the right side and a shot by Kristi Dirico.

“We knocked on the door a few times,” said Goddard. “I can’t say enough about our opponent. Conestoga is a quality side. They played their hearts out.”

But the Boyertown defense came through when it had to.

“We play as a family and that’s the biggest thing,” said Gallagher. “And we always communicate.”

“It was a great game,” Goddard added. “Everything a semifinal should be. We’ve got to cash in on our opportunities when we get them.”

Both teams had already clinched a spot in the PIAA Tournament.

Last year, Conestoga lost 2-1 to Ephrata in the opening round. The Bears will be making their second state appearance. The other was in 2013.

“This is rarefied air for us,” said Goddard. “It’s another step for our program. It’s a special group.”