Steege the savior as Conestoga edges Pennridge in PKs, advances to PIAA-4A semifinals

TOWAMENCIN >> Greta Steege doesn’t guess.

Conestoga’s sophomore goalkeeper won’t allow something as important as stopping a penalty kick come down to simple guess work. With the season riding on the line in a spot kick shootout against Pennridge in the PIAA-4A quarterfinals, Steege had the ability to extend the Pioneers’ season in her hands.

The keeper delivered, saving two kicks including the clincher as Conestoga edged Pennridge 4-3 in the shootout after a 0-0 double overtime war on Saturday at North Penn.

“I knew I didn’t have to save it but I wanted to do it for my team,” Steege said. “You have to be confident in PKs. It’s all a mental battle, so you have to think you’re going to save it in order to save it.”

Steege wasn’t just a PK hero either, as her diving save on Rams senior Riley Hepler in the second half of regulation was a major reason the game even went to extra time. Unlike last Friday, when the Pioneers took down the Rams 3-1 in the District 1 third place game, everything was that much more important on Saturday.

The season ends for Pennridge, meaning there will be a new state champion in Class 4A this fall. It was an emotional final team huddle for the group, certainly enhanced by how much the players had put into getting their injury-riddled squad this far.

Hepler, playing on a bad knee the last two games, gave everything she had as did all of her teammates from the starters to the underclassmen who have had to fill in as reserves with the lineup so depleted.

“I’ve grown up with these girls, I’ve watched this program and ever since I was little, I wanted to be here,” senior Leah Malone said. “I just hope I did my job and I hope I can set that standard for the younger girls coming up and I’m just so proud of the whole team and how we’ve been playing.”

Pennridge wanted another shot at Conestoga to show that the first meeting wasn’t who they really were as a team. Despite winning, the Pioneers also wanted another faceoff with the defending state champions as well.

During last year’s pandemic-altered season, the Pioneers didn’t get to experience the postseason. Having to go through the state champions was their way of making sure they belonged in this fall’s state tournament.

“The last game, I feel like they were the better team by far even though we won,” Pioneers defender Haleigh Wintersteen said. “If you’re a senior, it’s terrifying. It’s your last year playing high school with all your friends, so it means a lot and everyone puts their heart on the line hoping to get something and today we did.”

Conestoga’s defensive effort was outstanding and Steege heaped plenty of credit on her backs for all the work they did against Pennridge’s front line and midfield. Wintersteen, a senior who just seemed to keep appearing in key moments to break up a play, said everything started in the middle.

Prior to the match, Pioneers coach Ben Wilson put holding mids Bella Rios and Megan Daly up to task and they delivered with their efforts marking Hepler, Sophie Craig, Hannah Primwhere and even Malone when she dropped back.

“It’s incredible,” Wintersteen said. “The way Bella Rios slides and constantly puts her body on the line is insane and Meg Daly, they’re both seniors, their job is easier said than done so all credit to them.”

Heart was something Pennridge had in droves. They created chances and also withstood them, with senior keeper Sierra Shaeffer turning in a final resolute performance between the posts including a couple gutsy saves of her own in the second half.

The senior, a field player by trade, knew Saturday’s effort encapsulated this year’s team.

“It shows we play for each other, we’re selfless and we don’t make excuses, we just play our hearts out no matter the outcome,” Shaeffer said. “I think it shows our passion for the game and for each other. For the little girls watching us who are going to come here, they look up to us to set a standard.”

Pennridge’s defense was as stout as Conestoga’s and even with the small handful of scoring chances both ways, the teams found themselves scoreless after 110 grueling minutes.

Conestoga shot first, missing its opening attempt but Steege had her teammates’ backs by denying Pennridge’s first take.

“I don’t guess on PKs,” Steege said. “I try to read them and my goalie coach has helped me a lot with that. It’s a big confidence, I knew I needed to save one early to get in my head I could save them.”

Each keeper is different in their approach. For Steege, taking the guesswork out of it starts by avoiding the eyes. Instead, she looks at the ball and reads the shooter’s legs for their angle of approach and probable location then just trusts her countless repetitions of practice.

The Pioneers still needed to get one in the goal and Wintersteen was happy to oblige, calming her teammates in the process and giving her keeper some leeway.

“This was like the third PK I’ve ever taken in my life so it was a little nerve-wracking but I’ve been practicing,” Wintersteen said. “My left foot’s for PKs and my right’s for long balls. Fortunately it went in.”

After five rounds, the teams were level with three makes each, the Rams missing their fifth attempt that could have ended the shootout after ‘Stoga missed again on their fourth try. That meant each new round was a potential winner and after Brynn Borger stuck her penalty for Conestoga, Steege was up.

With a couple big stops already to her name for the day, the sophomore knew if she didn’t stop the next shot, the teams would simply go again. But that’s not her mentality. If the ball is in her reach, it needs to be stopped.

Steege went to her right, diving and getting both hands on the final kick from the spot just to make sure it went away from goal then got to be right in the middle as her teammates rushed the field to swarm her.

“It’s always helpful to have a big save, it gets you fired up but I also expected to make it,” Steege said. “I have high expectations of myself. You have to go for everything, hope for the best and give it your all.”

Pennridge’s senior class graduates with two district titles, four state playoff appearances and the program’s first ever state title last year. Coach Audrey Anderson lamented the toll the injuries took down the stretch, but won’t remember the final outcome, just the heart her team showed all year.

“It was a special group, this whole team, and I wish I could have this exact same group back next year,” Anderson said. “It would be something special.”

CONESTOGA 0 0 0 0 – 0 (4)

PENNRIDGE 0 0 0 0 – 0 (3)