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#PIAA 1A Girls Final Preview: @Shady_Side Go For 1st-Ever State Title

GIRLS 1A SOCCER FINAL

Shady Side Academy Indians (19-3, WPIAL Champions) vs Fairfield Green Knights (24-1)
Friday, November 18 – 11 a.m. – Hersheypark Stadium
Broadcast – PCN-TV (click here for Cable TV schedule and live streaming information)

SSA Girls celebrate.jpg

Shady Side girls celebrate Eliza Cochran’s goal to beat Greensburg Central Catholic 1-0 in the PIAA semifinal (Photo courtesy Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)


The Shady Side girls soccer program has had a lot of success in recent years, despite playing in the same section and classification as Greensburg Central Catholic.
This year, not only did they beat their rivals and two-time PIAA champions twice, with stingy defense and Eliza Cochran goals in WPIAL Final and PIAA Semifinal, they also advanced to the PIAA Girls soccer final in Hershey for the first time ever.

The Indians have rolled through the second half of the regular season and into the postseason, running a winning streak to 13 games.

“This is the group that deserves it,” Indians coach Mary Lynch said after the PIAA Semifinal win. “They have such camaraderie on and off the field, and they have come a long way to keep this run going. It’s not easy to beat a team like GCC twice.”

On Friday, they will have their chance to earn the school its first-ever PIAA soccer title when they take on Fairfield.
The Green Knights took down District 4 champion Warrior Run on Tuesday night at Cumberland Valley High School, 3-0, in the state semifinals to advance to Friday’s state championship game.
Fairfield and Warrior Run played to a scoreless first half, but the deadlock was broken early in the second half by Hannah Logue. Annabel Anderson made it 2-0 late in the second half after slotting home a nice feed from Logue to give Fairfield insurance. Nora Clarke then scored in the waning minutes to put the game to rest.
After shutting down the WPIAL’s all-time leading scorer Bailey Cartwright in successive game, Shady Side’s back line will face another challenge as Fairfield has now outscored its three state playoff foes, 18-3.
Here was my interview with Lynch after the Indians won the WPIAL title at Highmark Stadium on November 5…

 
If you are unable to make it to Hershey, all PIAA games will be televised on PCN. Pittsburgh Soccer Report will be posting updates of all WPIAL team results on Friday and Saturday.  

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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