Defending champ shuts out Pennridge

HERSHEY - Pennridge had made a season out of offensive efficiency and preserving marginal leads.

Saturday in the PIAA Class AAA girls' soccer final, the Rams fell victim to the same convention that had driven them to their first state-championship appearance.

The Rams lost, 1-0, to District 7's Peters Township at Hersheypark Stadium, snapping an 18-game winning streak that dated to mid-September.

The Indians earned their second straight state title, becoming the first District 7 girls' soccer program to repeat as state champion in PIAA history. They did so without allowing a goal in four state playoff games.

Pennridge (24-2), ranked No. 1 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer and No. 8 in the nation by ESPN Rise, had won 15 games by one goal this year, including each of its last five.

The Rams allowed just three shots Saturday, but that was enough for the Indians to prevail.

Peters Township sophomore Veronica Latsko put the Indians ahead by splitting Pennridge defenders Julia Rufe and Maggie Butcher in the box before sliding a shot past keeper Ashley Schoellkopf in the 29th minute.

The tally stood as the game-winner.

The Rams' South Carolina signee, Stevi Parker, had a couple of looks on net in the second half, when Pennridge dominated possession, but neither hit the mark.

"We had the ball in their half the whole time. We had so many opportunities, and we just couldn't finish them," an emotional Parker said.

"I think it was just frustrating for us because we knew we were on the brink of scoring the whole [second] half and we just couldn't get it in."

Overall, the Rams outshot the Indians, 15-3, and held a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks. Peters Township went without a shot in the second half, when it packed its lineup back, leaving Latsko alone up top, defending its way to the trophy.

Pennridge was without head coach Jorge Rodriguez, who was away on his honeymoon. Assistant Audrey Anderson was acting manager.

"They packed it in, and that's one thing we were used to the entire season - playing against teams like that," Anderson said. "We just couldn't pull one out tonight."

The Rams advanced to the final by gutting out three one-goal victories, two of which, including their semifinal win over Owen J. Roberts on Tuesday, came in overtime.

The District 1-champion Rams had last lost on Sept. 15, 2-1, to Hatboro-Horsham.

Peters Township (20-3-1), which beat Archbishop Wood in the 2010 final, was making its third title-game appearance in four years. They won the championship by posting 14 goals in four state-tourney games.

"I think we believed that we were going to get the tying goal," Parker said. "We had plenty of chances, and they just didn't happen for us. I guess luck wasn't on our side today."

Peters Township   1 0 – 1

Pennridge   0 0 – 0

Goal: PT-Veronica Latsko.

Saves: PT-Megan Parker 5; P-Ashley Schoellkopf 1.