Canon-McMillan girls runner-up in PIAA soccer
Sabrina Bryan celebrates with Lauren Hess (No. 16) after scoring Canon-McMillan’s first goal in the PIAA AAA girls’ soccer championship game.
Alena Poljak (No. 4) of Canon-McMillan attempts to console Cheyenne Trest (left) after Canon-McMillan saw its chance for its first PIAA state championship soccer title slip away in overtime. The Lady Macs dropped a 2-1 decision to Central Bucks West.
Lauren Hess (No. 16) of Canon-McMillan and Holly Pyles (No. 8) from Central Bucks West chase after the soccer ball during PIAA girls’ championship action. The Bucks edged the Lady Macs, 2-1, in overtime.
Sabrina Bryan (No. 10) battles Allie Walsh (No. 25) for the soccer ball during PIAA Class AAA girls’ soccer action. Bryan scored the lone goal in Canon-McMillan’s 2-1 loss to Central Bucks West.
Grace Bendon rises up to make a critical save against Canon-McMillan. The senior goalkeeper helped Central Bucks West to a 2-1 victory in overtime.
Midnight struck early for Canon-McMillan as its Cinderella soccer season ended in the PIAA Class AAA championship game. Around the dinner hour Nov. 15, the Lady Macs succumbed to Central Bucks West, 2-1, in sudden-death overtime.
With the defeat, C-M’s dream of claiming the school’s first state title in soccer vanished.
The Lady Macs finished 19-5-1.
“No doubt about it,” said C-M head coach Dave Derrico, “I’m very proud of them. I’ve talked so many times before about their heart, their desire and how we have no stars and we got here.”
The Lady Macs reached the pinnacle in the Pennsylvania playoffs the hard way. They emerged from Section 4-AAA play third behind champion Peters Township, and runner-up Moon. Their 9-3 record and positioning earned them a post-season berth.
During the WPIAL tournament, the Lady Macs won three games to reach the District 7 championships. Of those one-goal victories, two were against league rivals and one was a shootout decision against Peters Township.
Despite falling to two-time champion Seneca Valley, 1-0, in the WPIAL finals, the Lady Macs recovered. After a 7-0 victory against State College to open its state playoff run, Canon-Mac edged Spring-Ford and Central Bucks East by 2-1 scores to punch a ticket to Hershey for the PIAA finals.
Thirty-two seconds into the Class AAA championship contest at Hersheypark Stadium, Sabrina Bryan slipped on the glass slipper. After taking a 40-yard pass from Abby Gillespie, she lifted the Lady Macs into a lead it held for the next 73 minutes.
“I did think that was a dream beginning, but see how quickly a dream turns into a nightmare,” Derrico said.
Although the Lady Macs continued to dominate the action, Grace Bendon held her ground in the nets and the Bucks rallied for the equalizer with 5:50 to play in regulation. Bendon set up the score. The senior goalkeeper took a free kick. Although headed away by the Lady Macs’ defense, Shaw McCarty gathered up the loose ball. The senior forward fired a shot into the top-right corner of the net to tie the match, 1-1, and force overtime.
With 9:29 remaining in the first, 20-minute extra period, Bendon took another free kick after the Lady Macs were whistled for a foul. Lindsey Morgan gathered in the ball within six yards of the box and fired a shot on goal. Jillian Nolan tapped the rebound into the net to clinch the championship for the Bucks, who have won eight titles in school history.
The loss ended the scholastic careers for six Lady Macs, including Kyra Murphy, Allison Oddi, Sydney Keremes, Ashley Oddi, Lauren Hess and Gillespie.
The team also consists of six juniors, including Elizabeth Hathaway, Alena Poljak, Allison Thomas, Allison Walker, Ashlyn Whipple and Kelci Marchetti.
Bryan leads a talented sophomore class. The group includes: Megan Virgin, Casey Lober, Cheyenne Trest, Aideen O’Donoghue, Isabel Schiedenhelm, Lexey Finney, Anna Starcevic, Madison Manz, Amanda Romano, Abrianna Scenna, Taylor Prezel and Ashley Kushner.
Freshman on the team included: Morgan Webb, Elizabeth Ross, Alexandra Yarosh, Serafina Samosky, Anna Lee Gavran, Riley O’Korn, Jenna Ablak, Allison Paxton, Jessica Ray, Madison Whipple, Samantha Germeyer, Jessica Gadez and Jaiden Williams.
Heather Powelson, Larry Shaw and Danielle Hewitt served as assistant coaches to Derrico.