Canon-McMillan advances to WPIAL soccer finals
Canon-McMillan’s Aideen O’Donoghue fends off Mt. Lebanon’s Emma Cusick as they battle for the soccer ball during the WPIAL Quad-A girls’ semifinal playoff game at Baldwin Stadium. O’Donoghue scored on a forward lead pass from Annabel Thomas with 59.4 seconds left in the first half.
Cheyenne Trest crashes into Molly Merrick after the Mt. Lebanon goalkeeper made a stop on shot taken by the Canon-McMillan midfielder during WPIAL Quad-A girls’ semifinal action.
Remain calm. Addie Roman told herself exactly that as she raced down field, confronted Molly Merrick 1-on-1 and deposited the soccer ball into the net lifting Canon-McMillan to victory, 2-1, in overtime against Mt. Lebanon during a WPIAL Quad-A girls’ soccer semifinal playoff game at Baldwin Stadium.
“Basically, (I was thinking) to keep composed in front of the net,” Roman said. “I told myself all it is is just one shot and we are over. So I basically took my time and placed it right behind her and it went in.
“I was all out of breath but I tried my hardest to put it in the back of the net and that is what happened.”
What happens next is the Lady Macs compete for the District 7 title. Thanks to Roman, Canon-McMillan (18-0-1) will play Norwin (19-0-1) in the WPIAL championship contest set for 3:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at Highmark Stadium.
“They have six girls that play on the Riverhounds team and they are going to be difficult,” C-M coach Dave Derrico said of Norwin. “I think we have them in size and strength but with Sabrina (Bryan) about 75-80 percent, we could have an issue. But Addie Roman may step up.”
Roman surely did against the Blue Devils. She filled in for Bryan, who is plagued by a knee ailment. Roman had only one goal in mind when she took the ball at midfield and ended the contest with four minutes left in the second overtime period.
“Basically just to win and go on to the championship game,” said the sophomore forward. “I just knew that whoever had the most heart on the field was going to win this game. I felt like we put it all out on the line.”
Since breaking into the starting line-up as a freshman, Roman has put it on the line for the Lady Macs. This season, she has had a bigger role as a sub mostly because Bryan and Aideen Donoghue are the team’s forwards.
“But Addie is also a forward,” explained Derrico “She does a good job. She’s our future.”
Roman’s also a confidence builder. Derrico said he never doubted Roman would score in that 1-on-1 situation. “Yes,” he said, “I was very confident in Addie. She finishes real well.”
C-M seemed to finish off its nemesis early when Donoghue scored the first goal of the game, lifting the Lady Macs into the lead, 1-0, with 59.4 seconds remaining in the first half. The Blue Devils, however, knotted the contest on a goal from Sarah Delfrate, forcing the overtime between the section rivals. They had met twice during the regular season with C-M winning a pair of 2-0 decisions.
“In soccer they say it is hard to beat the same team three times in one season and it was hard. It was extremely hard,” emphasized Derrico. “Our other two games were hard-fought games. So I was worried about them. I was afraid of them. In fact, I said that Norwin and any body from our section would be tough opponents in the playoffs and I thought Lebo was more dangerous than St. Clair and Peters this year.”
Both goalkeepers proved most dangerous in the first overtime. Merrick turned back a penalty kick from Cheyenee Trest, preventing the Lady Macs the win with 3:42 to play. However, Megan Virgin made the stop of the game. She saved a penalty kick with 12:30 to go in the second extra period.
“Megan was outstanding. Remarkable,” added Derrico. “We had just missed one and she made an awesome save. She makes great saves.”
Derrico believes the WPIAL saved the best for last as both Norwin and Canon-McMillan are seeded No. 1 and No. 2. Both teams are undefeated and top-ranked in the state. Plus, the Knights are the defending WPIAL champions.
“So, I think it is going to be a hell of a final,” he said.
Previous play
• Upper St. Clair ended its season with a 3-0 loss to Norwin. The Panthers were the defending state champions and WPIAL runners-up last year to the Knights. USC finished 11-6 overall.
• South Fayette lost to Montour, 5-0. The Lady Lions finished 10-8-2 overall.
• Canon-McMillan defeated Seneca Valley, 3-1, in the quarterfinals. Sabrina Bryan registered two goals while Annabel Thomas supplied the other tally for the Lady Macs, who improved to 17-0-1 overall.
• Mt. Lebanon edged Penn-Trafford, 3-2. Jess Wilhelm scored twice and Blair Proteau added the other goal for the Lebo ladies, who improved to 10-7-2 overall. The Warriors were the No. 4 seed in the tournament.