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INDIANA -- Momentum in a sporting event is very important. It can also be extremely fickle.
Such was the case in Saturday afternoon's PIAA Class 1A quarterfinal-round girls soccer playoff match between Bishop Guilfoyle Academy and Springdale at Indiana High School's Andy Kuzneski Field, when the momentum of the game turned drastically within a minute's time late in the game, and Springdale emerged as a 2-1 victor.
Springdale led, 1-0 with time winding down, before a quick-strike goal by Bishop Guilfoyle sophomore striker Emma Marasco tied the score, 1-1, with 4:39 left in regulation.
"I got a good through ball from Hailey DeGol,'' said Marasco, who sped up the middle of the field unattended. "We got the momentum with that goal.''
WPIAL champion Springdale (19-1) responded with the game-winning goal just 67 seconds later, however, as junior forward Hailey Marchlewski scored her second goal of the game to punch the Dynamos' ticket into Tuesday's semifinal-round matchup against WPIAL third-place finisher Seton LaSalle, which beat Karns City, 2-0 in Saturday's other semifinal matchup.
"The momentum shifted, and that's what happens in a close game,'' said BG coach Joe DeLeo, whose District 6 champion Lady Marauders finished their season with a 16-4-1 record. "I'm real proud of our team, especially our seniors. It just didn't end our way today.''
Standout BG sophomore keeper Cece Rumfola turned in an exemplary effort, making 17 saves, including several of the acrobatic variety. After BG had tied the score on Marasco's goal, Rumfola registered one of her best stops of the day, diving to her left to keep a short-range penalty kick by Springdale senior midfielder Molly Hurley out of the cage with 4:02 left.
On a day when Springdale controlled the tempo and field position in the game, Rumfola deserved a better fate.
"They controlled the ball really well today,'' Rumfola said of the Dynamos. "We started slow in the first half, but we picked it up in the second half.''
Both coaches were extremely impressed by Rumfola's effort, which kept BG within striking distance for 80 minutes.
"She's the quickest keeper I've ever seen,'' DeLeo said of Rumfola. "It's even more impressive that she's only a sophomore, and we will have her on this team for two more years. She's amazing.''
Springdale coach Marc Bentley agreed.
"We felt like we created a lot of chances for ourselves, but their keeper was unbelievable,'' Bentley said. "I love the resilience shown by our girls in counter-attacking quickly after BG's goal.''
Marchlewski found herself open in the middle of the field after picking up a deflected ball, and booted a shot into the cage for the game-winner.
"I just kind of took the ball when it deflected off one of our players,'' Marchlewski said. "I shot the ball from far out, and took my chances.''
Marchlewski also scored the first goal of the game, kicking a ball from the deep right-wing corner of the field and threading the needle with a high shot inside the left goal post at the 29:40 mark of the first half.
"I had dribbled the ball all the way down to the right corner flag, and I meant to cross kick the ball, but it just went inside the post,'' Marchlewski said.
BG, which made it to the PIAA semifinals last year, will graduate only three seniors -- Mara Kirkpatrick, Ava Geishauser, and DeLeo's daughter, Paxton -- from this year's team. So the future looks very bright for the Lady Marauders.
"As disappointed as we are today, we're hoping that we can continue the success that we've had over the next couple of years,'' Joe DeLeo said.
SCORE BY HALVES
Bishop Guilfoyle 0 1--1
Springdale 1 1--2
First half: S--Marchlewski (unassisted), 29:40.
Second half: BG--Marasco (DeGol), 35:21. S--Marchlewski (unassisted), 36:48.
Shots on goal: Springdale 30, Bishop Guilfoyle 14.
Saves: Rumfola, BG, 17; B. Haas, S, 7.
Corner kicks: Springdale 4, Bishop Guilfoyle 1.
Records: Bishop Guilfoyle (16-4-1); Springdale (19-1).