Wood girls outlast Conestoga in state semifinal

Senior Nicole Ahrens' goal less than five minutes into a second overtime period gave Archbishop Wood a 3-2 victory over Conestoga on Wednesday night and a berth in Saturday's PIAA Class AAA girls' soccer championship game.

The Vikings (23-1), Catholic League and District 12 champions, will play District 7 champ Peters Townshiip at 3 p.m. Saturday at HersheyPark Stadium for the state title.

With the victory, the Vikings extended this area's best girls' soccer winning streak to 23 games. They have not lost since bowing to Central Bucks West, 2-1, in their nonleague opener on Sept. 3.

"The girls seem to find a way to win," said veteran Wood coach Bill Cappo, who saw his team lose a 2-0 lead in the second half because of the work of Conestoga's outstanding sophomore, Salina Williford. Williford scored both of her team's goals.

"Up 2-0, I thought we were in good shape," Cappo added, "but that No. 20 [Williford] is a dangerous player. We didn't make it easy, but we did it. Conestoga is a good team - probably the best we've seen."

After a scoreless first half, the Vikings missed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock when Kelsey Celline's kick hit the right post and bounded away with 2 minutes and 20 seconds gone in the second half.

Less than three minutes later, senior Rachel Friend's corner kick sliced just enough so that it glanced off goalie Ann Walker's outstretched hands and into the net.

A penalty kick by Hunter Filippo that was awarded to Wood after Celline had gotten knocked down made it 2-0 four minutes later.

Williford cut the deficit to 2-1 for the Pioneers (19-6), the No. 6 team out of District 1. Her shot hit the back of Wood's Jackie Pierson and went into the net at 12:36.

Two minutes later, Williford got her second goal into the lower left corner of the cage.

The two teams failed to score in the first overtime. Friend had another corner kick in that period, but the Vikings couldn't score off it this time.

Williford had an open shot with less than 12 minutes to play in the second overtime, but the ball went over the crossbar. Two minutes later, Ahrens deposited the winner.

"I think it was Rachel [Friend] who sent the ball over the top," Ahrens said. "It took one bounce and I hit it. I was just hoping I hit it enough."

Conestoga coach Meghan Brogan, who questioned the awarding of the penalty kick that had made the score 2-0, praised for her young squad - six sophomores start - which was initially the 26th seed in the district.

"We had a game plan and we created great opportunities," said Brogan, in her first year of coaching the Pioneers. "It's been a great season."

Archbishop Wood   0 2 0 1 – 3

Conestoga   0 2 0 0 – 2

Goals: AW-Rachel Friend, Hunter Filippo, Nichole Ahrens; C-Salina Williford 2.

Saves: AW-Deanna Messner 2; C-Anna Walker 4.