Guilfoyle girls lose heartbreaker
Trending
PHILIPSBURG -- Sudden-death playoff overtime periods provide such a stark contrast of emotions.
One side turns all of the anxiety built up over the last two hours into pure jubilation while the other is sent into a sudden shock and utter disbelief that in the span of a few seconds their entire season has come to an end.
Unfortunately for Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic, it was once again on the side of heartache.
The Lady Marauders fell behind by a goal in the second half of Tuesday's District 6 Class 1A championship game against Penns Valley at Mountaineer Stadium, battled back to tie and force overtime and played into a second overtime before a controversial goal by Scotty Dinges with 8:54 left before a shootout would have occurred secured the district title, 2-1, for the Lady Rams.
It was the third year in a row BG lost in the District 6 final.
"I was up past the defensive line," Dinges said. "I saw the goalie fumble it, and my instinct is to put a touch on it and see if I can score, and I just put it in the goal. It was so emotional, and I'm so grateful for my team behind me, because it was such a great celebration."
Bishop Guilfoyle keeper Finley Steinbugl ran forward to secure a loose ball, but the ball -- damp from a rainstorm prior to the game -- slipped through her hands and between her legs. As she turned and reached around to secure it, Dinges kicked the ball into the net for the game-winner.
Several coaches on the Lady Marauder bench believed there was a whistle from the official nearest the play signaling Steinbugl had secured the ball prior to Dinges kicking it.
"I couldn't really see it," DeLeo said. "I really thought it was in our keeper's hands, but I didn't really get a chance to talk to the officials about it, so I'm not entirely sure what their perspective was."
Penns Valley coach Sean Herrmann said he did not see the play develop.
"That last goal, I was looking at my bench getting ready to go to a sub," Herrmann said. "I heard the girls scream. I turned around and saw Scotty turn the ball toward the goal and put it in. Complete composure, which is amazing, because any young player in that position could easily shank the ball or not get a shot off before the keeper jumped back on top of it. Credit to Scotty (a junior) for being able to keep her composure and secure the win for us."
Neither team scored in the first half, although Bishop Guilfoyle controlled the ball for nearly all of the first 20 minutes without a goal.
"Sometimes that happens in soccer," DeLeo said. "They played a good game. They were ready for us. We outshot them, but that doesn't always make the difference."
Penns Valley keeper Avery Dinges stopped 23 Lady Marauder shots, but BG's looks from the middle of the field and from star Lainey Farabaugh weren't great due to a defense designed to slow her down.
"We did get a chance to watch this team play last week and got some film of them," Herrmann said. "We knew where their attacking threats were. Credit to our defense. They played a heck of a game. Ellie Romig, our top center defender, stuck with (Farabaugh) the whole game, and our great center back, Bekah Gillespie, followed her up if someone got free. They really shut her down and the others, which started to frustrate them, I think."
Scotty Dinges seemingly scored a goal earlier in the game, but it was wiped out by an offside call. Seven minutes later, Ellie Dinges opened the scoring for the Lady Rams.
Farabaugh finally broke through from the left side and hit the right goal post and ricocheted her shot in to tie the game with 23:38 left in regulation.
Farabaugh, who finished her senior season with 57 goals, including all four in the semifinal win over West Branch, had a good look with about two minutes to play in regulation but missed it just left of the net.
The Lady Marauders had three more good looks in the first overtime but couldn't cash in, and Scotty Dinges ended their season at 13-7 just more than six minutes into the second overtime.
"Claire (Cammarata) and Lainey (Farabaugh) have been the heart of this team," DeLeo said. "They have started every game for me for four years. Your heart really goes out to them. They have worked really hard to get here and to lose in this manner, it's really tough."
SCORE BY HALVES
Penns Valley 0 1 0 1 -- 2
Bishop Guilfoyle 0 1 0 0 -- 1
First half: None.
Second half: PV--E. Dinges (Hubler), 31:39; BG--Farabaugh (unassisted), 23:38.
First overtime: None
Second overtime: PV--S. Dinges (unassisted), 8:54.
Records: Bishop Guilfoyle (13-7); Penns Valley (11-7-1).