NEW BETHLEHEM — The Port Allegany girls soccer team won its first-round playoff game in the most dramatic fashion on Monday.
After 110 minutes, including two 15-minute overtime sessions, and the first five shooters of the PK session weren’t enough to decide the Gators’ matchup with Redbank Valley, the teams went to sudden-victory rounds. And that’s where Port A finally won it.
In Round 6, Patty Todd found the back of the net to give the Gators a 4-3 PK advantage. Cailey Barnett, who had split time in goal with Sierra Lannager during regulation, made a save on Redbank’s next shot, giving sixth-seeded Port Allegany a District 9 Class A first round upset the No. 3 Bulldogs after a 1-1 tie through overtime.
Brooke Ebele had given Redbank Valley a 1-0 lead when she scored on a scramble in front of the box in the 38th minute of the first half. The Bulldogs maintained that advantage until well into the second half, when Riley Lawton scored off a direct kick with 17:37 left. The teams played the next 32-plus minutes to a stalemate until the Gators came away with the 4-3 triumph in penalty kicks.
Barnett, who tied for the Gators’ scoring lead last year but has served as the team’s primary goalkeeper this season, and Lannager combined for seven saves through the second overtime. Alena Keller made 10 stops for Redbank Valley.
Port Allegany will meet a familiar foe in Thursday’s quarterfinals, taking on No. 2 Ridgway in Brockway (5 p.m.). The Gators and Elkers traded 2-1 triumphs over each other in the regular year.
“The girls played really well; we gutted it out,” Port A coach Tony Edgell said. “We did what needed to be done. We’re looking forward to Ridgway. They always give us a good game. Always.”
CLASS A FIRST ROUND
DuBois Catholic 2, Northern Potter 0
DUBOIS — Jonathan Kurtz gave DuBois Catholic a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute and Jonathan Schoeneman added an insurance marker in the 78th minute to key the fourth-seeded Cardinals.
Tyler McIntosh made seven saves for DuBois Catholic, which will play top-seeded Brockway in Wednesday’s semifinals at a site and time to be announced. NoPo had a couple of early scoring chances, including a shot that hit off the post.
Holden Cowburn made 10 stops for the fifth-seeded Panthers, including a penalty kick save in the 24th to keep the game scoreless. NoPo’s season ends at 6-9-1.
