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Central Mountain girls close season in D6 AAA semis, fall to Hollidaysburg in double overtime

By ANDY STINE 4 min read

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Late in double overtime of Wednesday's District 6 Class 3A semifinal, Hollidaysburg girls coach Tristan delGuidice said he sat down to circle some players to take penalty kicks at the end of the double overtime period.

It turned out that he was wasting his time thanks to freshman Ella Diaz, who was playing in her first game in two weeks because of injury.

Diaz booted the game-winner with just over two minutes remaining in double overtime period, sending the second-seeded Lady Tigers to a 2-1 victory over No. 3 Central Mountain at Tiger Stadium.

"I was nervous and I was thinking of PK's," delGuidice said. "I saw a blue rush go by, and I saw the ball go to Ella. She has been outstanding all year for a freshman."

No one wanted it to get to penalty kicks, so to see Diaz boot the ball in at the 108th minute was a relief to delGuidice and the rest of the Lady Tigers.

"Not that we can't do that, but it's a crapshoot when you get to PK's," delGuidice said. "You never know how the team is going to respond. I'd much rather finish it on the field."

Diaz' goal gave the Lady Tigers a spot in the district championship against top-seeded Bellefonte, which did not need to play a semifinal game in the three-team bracket.

"To be honest, I kind of blacked out," Diaz said of her game-winner. "I started running and I kind of just prayed.

"We haven't worked (at penalty kicks) a ton. I was a little nervous to go there. I'm really glad we pulled through.'

Diaz got the game-winner after Kate Steiner tied the game in the second half in the 55th minute.

The Lady Wildcats were hit with a couple offsides calls earlier in the overtime periods that may have given them an opening to break the tie.

"We had a feeling it was going to PK's when the last (offsides) call didn't go our way," Central Mountain coach Lauren Heimer said. "We were prepared to go into that, and it was just kind of a fluke that it hit off their player when we were trying to clear it. It's unlucky. It's sad that's the way it had to end this season."

Central Mountain's Autumn Sneath gave her team the lead in the first half with a goal at 24:35, despite the Lady Wildcats trailing in the shot column, 5-3, through the first 40 minutes.

"It really felt like it was 85-90 percent us maintaining possession on the attack," delGuidice said. "It was unfortunate we let up that goal early and we were playing from behind. The girls have been very resilient as the season has gone on. I'm just really proud of how they battled.

"Central Mountain is a lot better than their record would demonstrate. I told the girls they played a lot tougher competition throughout the year. They're a good team."

Central Mountain goalkeeper Alyssa Ford kept her team in the game with 14 saves for the night. Hollidaysburg goalie Ellie Jadlocki stopped seven shots.

Hollidaysburg's championship game with Bellefonte will be next week on a day to be determined.

"Just really happy to escape, and it really feels like we escaped," delGuidice said. "They really tested us, and I think it's going to better prepare us for the championship game."

SCORE BY HALVES

Central Mountain 1 0 0 0 -- 1

Hollidaysburg 0 1 0 1 -- 2

First Half: CM--Sneath, 24:35.

Second Half: H--Steiner, 54:36.

Double overtime: H--Diaz, 107:31.

Records: Central Mountain (4-11-2); Hollidaysburg (12-3-4).

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