Standouts from Pennsylvania PIAA Girls Finals

Four girls teams were crowned state champions in Pennsylvania on November 18 and 19 at Eagle View Middle School in Mechanicsburg. Central Dauphin had a great local turnout to watch them beat Pennridge in the 4A final. After winning the 4A final a year ago, Moon Area came from behind to beat Upper Perkiomen to win the 3A final. Southern Columbia made it three titles in a row with a 5-3 win over Freedom area in the 1A final while Central Columbia beat General McLane 4-1 in the 2A final.   Here's a look at the players that stood out from finals weekend.   <h2>1A Final</h2>   Quinn Johnston, Junior, Goalkeeper, Southern Columbia A goalkeeper in a eight-goal game isn't usually the top of the list to highlight but Johnston was the player of the game. Her saves to deny Shaye Bailey on a couple clear breakaway chances were the difference in a high scoring match that could've easily be 6-5 to Freedom Area's favor.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/12/6N4A4477.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-68610" width="400" height="266" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Southern Columbia</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='42066' first='Loren' last='Gehret'], Senior, Forward, Southern Columbia Gehret wasn't just the star of the day for Southern Columbia; the Monmouth-bound senior was one of the best players on the field for the weekend with her four-goal and assist performance. Southern Columbia fell behind early, but Gehret had an answer every time her team needed her in an unforgettable day leading her team to a three-peat.   Shaye Bailey, Junior, Forward, Freedom Area Bailey was a huge threat as she's been all season for Freedom, scoring a pair of goals in a battle of star players. Johnston's goalkeeping was the only thing standing between Bailey and a state title as she created enough chances to win the game but was denied at the goalmouth from doing so.   Julia Mohrbacher, Senior, Forward, Freedom Area Mohrbacher opened the scoring with a goal from distance and was active throughout linking passes to her teammates in a free-flowing affair. She set up Bailey's goal to put Freedom up 2-1 and played a ball over the top Bailey was able to convert into a goal to make it 4-3.   <h2>2A Final</h2>   Haley Bull, Sophomore, Forward, Central Columbia Opened the scoring with a well taken left-footed curler in the first half for her 30th of the season.    Kayla Keefer, Junior, Forward, Central Columbia Keefer added to her unreal goal tally with her 55th goal of the season to double Central Columbia's lead in the first half. It came off a good first touch to set herself up for a cleanly taken finish. She then added her 56th in the second half off a free kick from Norah Barry on a great run in the box. She then completed the hat trick to ice the game at the end.    Brooklyn Respecki, Senior, Forward, General McLane Respecki showed her incredible knack for finding the back of the net even in the losing effort, setting up some dangerous chances for teammates and creating for herself. Her goal in the second half (her 59th of the season) cut the Central Columbia lead in half on a rocketed shot from outside the 18.    Madelyn Blake, Junior, Midfielder, Central Columbia Blake set Keefer up for two of her goals, including a great through ball to complete the hat trick and ice the game late.   <h2>3A Final</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/12/6N4A5921.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-68608" width="406" height="260" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mary Kate Sitko (left) and [player_tooltip player_id='45343' first='Hailey' last='Longwell']</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='45343' first='Hailey' last='Longwell'], Senior, Midfielder, Moon Area Struggling to find an equalizer against a well-organized and gritty Upper Perkiomen team, Moon Area desperately needed a player to step up and play the hero and that's exactly what Longwell did when she headed in a long free kick from Marina Mollica to tie the game. The goal changed the game and gave all of the momentum the Tigers, which they grabbed to find a winner eight minutes later when she played the initial ball that ended being headed to the feet of Sydney Felton.   Kayla Leseck, Senior, Midfielder, Moon Area Felton deserves the credit for scoring the game-winner when she was in the right spot to collect and convert a rebound but Leseck's header made the goal happen. To get that kind of power she was able to get from distance and force a save that was hit home for the winner was instrumental in the outcome.   [player_tooltip player_id='45379' first='Megan' last='Cairns'], Junior, Midfielder, Upper Perkiomen Within the first six minutes, Cairns was able to do something few have done all year against a Moon Area team that conceded only two goals: score. Cairns got on the end of an Erin Edwards corner kick to give the Indians the shock early lead against the heavy favorites.   Ava Long, Sophomore, Goalkeeper, Upper Perkiomen Long isn't naturally a goalkeeper, but you wouldn't have known that watching her in the final. She stepped up to make several big stops and keep her team in striking distance of pulling off the upset.   [player_tooltip player_id='45386' first='Serayah' last='Leech'], Junior, Goalkeeper, Moon Area Leech didn't have a ton to do after Upper Perkiomen took the early lead and were content to absorb pressure but when she was called upon Leech stepped up to lock down the win.   Kyra Lesko, Senior, Midfielder, Upper Perkiomen For much of the night, Moon's offense struggled to create clear chances or find a final ball. They had a ton of the ball - especially after falling behind - but couldn't penetrate the back line. The work of Lesko and fellow midfielder Mary Kate Sitko in front of the back line was a big reason for this. She was making tackles and frustrating the Tigers attack.   <h2>4A Final</h2>   Kayden Williams, Sophomore, Forward, Central Dauphin The sophomore scored 28 goals this season, but none were as big as the one she scored with under five minutes left in the final to lead her team to the state final. The chance fell to Williams when Katie Reynolds' shot was blocked into her path and hit it into the net with a low liner.    Jazmine Zakhar, Freshman, Forward, Central Dauphin Zakhar created a lot of problems for Pennridge down the right flank with her crossing ability. It was her cross to Kayden Williams that led to a penalty that set up the first goal of the match 10 minutes in. [player_tooltip player_id='45315' first='Nia' last='Chinapoo'], Senior, Midfielder, Central Dauphin Chinapoo was pulling the strings from midfield as usual, scored the first goal with a good finish from the penalty spot and was a leader on both sides of the ball.    [player_tooltip player_id='25963' first='Olivia' last='Grenda'], Junior, Midfielder, Pennridge Grenda was dealing from the midfield, creating goal-scoring chances for her teammates with her passing and combination with her teammates and for herself with her technical ability on the ball. Her aggressive play also set up the free kick that led to Pennridge's first goal.    [player_tooltip player_id='61380' first='Isabella' last='Zulli'], Junior, Defender, Central Dauphin Zulli made a big clearance to prevent a rebound on a chance in the second half and stood tall under pretty intense pressure throughout the game from a dynamic attacking team in Pennridge.

Four girls teams were crowned state champions in Pennsylvania on November 18 and 19 at Eagle View Middle School in Mechanicsburg. Central Dauphin had a great local turnout to watch them beat Pennridge in the 4A final. After winning the 4A final a year ago, Moon Area came from behind to beat Upper Perkiomen to win the 3A final. Southern Columbia made it three titles in a row with a 5-3 win over Freedom area in the 1A final while Central Columbia beat General McLane 4-1 in the 2A final.