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Southeastern Pa. girls’ soccer notes

Defender Elena Ochsenreither has scored only three goals this season, but on a Central Bucks West girls' soccer team that doesn't produce many goals to start with - 20 in 22 games - she has a knack for scoring at the right time.

Defender Elena Ochsenreither has scored only three goals this season, but on a Central Bucks West girls' soccer team that doesn't produce many goals to start with - 20 in 22 games - she has a knack for scoring at the right time.

All three of her goals for the 14-1-7 Bucks - yes, that's right, seven ties - have been winning ones.

"It just kind of happens," Ochsenreither said, trying to explain her ability to pick up game-winners.

She had one of those Tuesday night in a 1-0 victory over Abington Heights in the opening round of the PIAA Class AAA playoffs at Scranton High.

The Bucks are the No. 3 team from District 1. Abington Heights (11-3) is the District 4 champion.

"The ball was coming right at me," Ochsenreither said of her goal, as if to indicate she had to think quickly and do something with it. "It was a corner kick from Erin McQuate."

The victory puts the Bucks in a quarterfinal game at 8 p.m. Saturday against Conestoga at West Chester East.

"We don't know much about Conestoga, but we're trying to get some information. They have to be good to have gotten this far," Ochsenreither said.

Conestoga coach Meghan Brogan knows something about the Bucks, who play in the perennially strong Suburban One League. She went to see them play in a game at Souderton not far from her Montgomery County home.

"They have great throwers-in," Brogan said. "We're going to have to adjust to that. We're young, and we'll have to wait and see what kind of nerves we have. West is very patient.

"We're very happy to be in the playoffs. We didn't think we'd make them after we lost to Strath Haven, Downingtown West, and Unionville - all by 1-0 scores. But here we are."

Another banner eyed. There are nine field hockey banners for a District 1 Class AA championship and two for a PIAA championship at Villa Maria Academy, but until this year, there was none for the soccer team.

The Hurricanes took care of the district soccer trophy a little more than a week ago. Tuesday night, they began their bid for a state title with their first state-playoff win in the school's history.

Junior Kimmy Spaventa scored in Villa's 1-0 overtime win over Lansdale Catholic.

"It's good to see the one banner," Spaventa said. "Now we'd like to get another one. We've kind of taken a backseat to field hockey."

Spaventa said she was thankful for a small tailwind on the winning goal at West Chester East.

The Hurricanes played into the wind during the first half.

"The wind had played a little havoc with us in that first half. In the last 15 minutes [of regulation], we picked it up with the wind at our backs," Villa coach Gary Christopher said. "We were looking to possess the ball."

Christopher said he thought conditioning was also a factor.

"We played smart defensively, and our conditioning is very good," he said. "I thought Lansdale was tiring a little."

That set the stage for Kasey Schiavoni to lay a ball off to Spaventa, who knocked it in from about 20 yards out with two minutes remaining in the overtime.

"I just hoped the wind was enough to carry it," said Spaventa, who has seven goals this season.

Christopher wasn't sure if it was a factor.

"Even if it wasn't enough to help, it didn't hurt us," he said.