Lady Tigers lose heartbreaker
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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
WINGATE -- Perspective is a funny thing.
From the Hollidaysburg point of view, Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Bellefonte in a shootout that also went down to extra kicks was about as heartbreaking as you can experience.
The Lady Tigers led 1-0 on senior Chloe Stoehr's second-half goal until only 1:30 remained in regulation when Bellefonte tied it.
Hollidaysburg hit the crossbar on either teams' best overtime opportunity, and then the Lady Tigers nearly scored again with 2:30 left before Bellefonte goalie Keira Whitman made a leaping tip then recovered the ball just before it crossed the goal.
In the shootout, Hollidaysburg had leads of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-1 before Bellefonte's Reese Patterson and Sydney Miller made back-to-back goals to save the Lady Raiders.
On the final shootout series, Hollidaysburg's Kate Steiner had a shot that appeared nearly perfect off the toe get past Whitman but glance off the post just before Mackenzie Mamolen scored the game-winner for Bellefonte.
"There were probably three or four we thought might be the one," Hollidaysburg coach Tristan delGiudice said. "Sometimes it's an inch here or an inch there that makes the difference. We hit the crossbar. If it's an inch lower, it might hit the lower part and go in. Their keeper tapped and made a great save on one going into the net. Their keeper did a great job."
From the Bellefonte point of view, the game played out like a fairytale.
"This is huge," Bellefonte coach Stacey Miller said. "It's the first district championship in our girls soccer program history."
Brooke Whitman's goal with 1:30 left in regulation breathed life back into a team that seemed like it minutes from watching Hollidaysburg be awarded medals.
"It was the best feeling ever," Miller said. "Brooke tore her ACL last year against Hollidaysburg in the championship game. For her to work her way back and hit that goal against Hollidaysburg and put us into overtime, it's the best story that could have been written."
Bellefonte also won the regular season meeting, 4-3, in overtime.
"When we played them in the regular season, we played a very vanilla defense," delGiudice said. "We knew we were going to have to face them in districts. Tonight, we came out and played a different formation that really limited their chances short of one breakdown with one minute and a half left. It was going to be a great 1-0 victory that, unfortunately, went south real quick."
Hollidaysburg was expecting a low-scoring contest.
"All season Bellefonte has been a great defensive team, and we knew this could easily be a 1-0 game," delGiudice said. "Hats off to Bellefonte. They are a well-coached tough and fast team. They are a deserving champion."
Hollidaysburg started five seniors, including Chloe Stoehr, who scored the Lady Tigers' goal and put one in the net in the shootout along with senior Sophia Blescia and sophomore Bailey Stoehr.
"Our seniors were outstanding and provided great leadership throughout the season," delGiudice said. "They are going to be missed. We end up losing 10 seniors on varsity that will be tough to replace, but we'll get back at it next year with a younger group and get back to this game hopefully next year."
SCORE BY HALVES
Hollidaysburg 0 1 0 0 (3) -- 1
Bellefonte 0 1 0 0 (4) -- 2
First half: none.
Second half: H--C. Stoehr (unassisted), 26:14; B--Whitman (unassisted), 1:30.
Overtime: No scoring.
Second overtime: No scoring.
Shootout: Hollidaysburg goals--C. Stoehr, Blescia, B. Stoehr. Bellefonte--Pringle, Patterson, Miller, Mamolen.
Records: Hollidaysburg (15-5); Bellefonte (14-3-1)