#PIAA 3A Girls Final Preview: Moon Face 9-Time Champs Villa Joseph Marie

Girls PIAA 3A Soccer Final

Moon Tigers (24-1, WPIAL Champions) vs Villa Joseph Marie Jems (21-1-1)
Friday, November 18 – 4 p.m. – Hersheypark Stadium
Broadcast – PCN-TV (click here for Cable TV schedule and live streaming information)

 
The Moon girls soccer team has been a juggernaut this season, rolling through all competition at the 3A level (only loss was 3-0 loss to 4A Seneca Valley).
But, one more hurdle remains for the Tigers.
Villa Joseph Marie have been a program that has made regular appearances in the PIAA Girls Double-A final in recent years, and with PA high school soccer’s move to four classifications, they’ve emerged as Eastern PA’s top team once again.  This will be the third PIAA Finals appearance in a a row for the nine-time State titlist Jems, as they lost last year to District 10 Champs Villa Marie, but defeated Villa Marie in 2014.
The WPIAL Champion Tigers won its only PIAA (AA) title in 2012, with a 1-0 over Archbishop Wood, and previously made appearances under coach Bill Pfeifer in 2004 and 2006.

Moon advanced to the PIAA finals after completing a four-game season sweep of section rivals Montour, who they also beat twice in the regular season (2-0, 2-1), in the WPIAL Finals 1-0, and in the PIAA Semifinal, 1-0.
After the game, I caught up with Pfeifer…

 
One more win will also be a crowning achievement for a Moon team that boasts a talented attack featuring play-making forward Delaney Snyder (Miami – Ohio recruit), Emma Thomas and Emily Orr on the flank. After Snyder sent a low lining ball through the box in the PIAA semifinal, it was midfielder Mackenzie Sheldon who scored the game’s lone goal.
The Tigers have been equally tough to score goals on — giving up only 1 goal in the post season — on a Penalty Kick — and none in the run-of-play.
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.