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PIAA Girls Class A Soccer Championship: Centurions win title with scoring flurry
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HERSHEY, Pa. -- For a half-hour of Friday night's PIAA Class A girls soccer championship, Greensburg Central Catholic was in an odd spot: scoreless.
But not for long.
A 25-yard smash at 32:52 by Greensburg Central Catholic star Frannie Crouse that left Conwell-Egan goalie Becky McAllister reaching for air made the Centurions' world right in a hurry.
From that point on, Greensburg Central Catholic (23-1) did what it does best: score, score, score, score. And score.
The 5-1 victory against Conwell-Egan (13-7-1) gave Greensburg Central Catholic its first PIAA girls' soccer championship in record fashion.
The five goals is the most in a PIAA Class A girls championship game.
OK, it's just the third year for Class A girls soccer in Pennsylvania, so consider this: It is the third highest number of goals scored in any PIAA girls fall championship soccer game.
When asked if there was any concern that Conwell-Egan's defensive peskiness might corral the Centurions offense, Greensburg Central Catholic coach Ashley Shasko just raised an eyebrow, grinned and shook her head.
"I think there were a little jitters at first," Shasko said. "Once we settled down, we were fine."
Just 5:56 into the second half, Malea Febean blasted a header past McAllister off Megan Shearson's corner to make it 2-0. Conwell-Egan visibly sagged after that goal.
And for good reason.
By that point, Greensburg Central Catholic had adjusted to the width of the Hersheypark Stadium turf -- all of the Centurions commented on the size of the pitch -- and soon found wide-open lanes.
"We did have to adjust for the width of this field," Crouse said. "Getting that first goal was like a sigh of relief. After that, we were able to play our game.''
In short order, Italia Biondi scored on a breakaway at 54:23, then Crouse slammed home another goal at 59:38 to make it 4-0 and the Centurions' 23rd consecutive win after an utterly baffling season-opening 9-0 loss to Fox Chapel.
"We were a little frustrated at first," Fabean said. "But we have a defense that's just as strong as our offense, so we weren't worried about not having an early goal."
The Centurions will lose just three seniors -- defenders Pauline Cole, Charlotte Szekely and Rosie Tritschler -- and return, well, everyone next season.
"Sure, let's do it again," said Shasko with a laugh. "Why not?"
First Published November 17, 2012 12:11 am
