Villa Maria ekes out state-playoff win

Villa Maria Academy's Meghan Murphy missed a penalty stroke in the opening minutes of the Hurricanes' PIAA Class AA playoff opener Tuesday against Oley Valley at Wissahickon.

"It went high to the left," said Murphy, who got a chance at redemption two minutes later off a penalty corner. "I guess I was a little nervous, but we practice them all the time."

With her chance at redemption, Murphy made good, and Villa made the goal stand up for a 1-0 win and a spot in Saturday's quarterfinals.

"Caroline [Troncelliti] inserted the ball into the circle for us, and I was lucky to put it in the cage," Murphy said.

Defense did the rest for the District 1-champion Hurricanes, who had all they could handle with Oley Valley, the sixth-place team from District 3.

"I think we were a little nervous, but we did what we had to do," Villa coach Maurene Polley said. "They have given us fits in the past."

In Saturday's quarterfinals, Villa (22-2) will meet the winner of Tuesday's game between Donegal, the second-place team from District 3, and Wyoming Seminary, the second-place team from District 2.

The Hurricanes missed a number of opportunities to pad their lead, but couldn't connect.

In the closing minutes of the first half, Troncelliti had a breakaway, but her shot went left of the goal cage. In the final five minutes, Villa came up empty on five offensive penalty corners, including two with less than a minute and a half to play.

The Lynx's Baylee Childress had a breakaway in the opening minute of the second half that pitted her one-on-one with freshman goalie Maddie Joyce inside the 35-yard line.

Childress appeared to have an open shot at the top of circle, but she continued to dribble in. When she did take her shot, she had a harder angle and the ball went wide.

"I think she waited too long to take the shot," Polley said. "I tell my kids when you are in a spot like that, just take one more dribble and then shoot."

Oley Valley coach Tiffany Cappellana said she thought her team never really found its groove.

"We wanted to go out and set the tone right way," she said. "It didn't happen. You need to be consistent for 60 minutes."

The Lynx finished 17-7.

Oley Valley   0 0 – 0

Villa Maria   1 0 – 1

Goal: Meghan Murphy.

Saves: OV-Rachel Hartman 8; VM-Maddie Joyce 2.