WPIAL Girls 2A Final
Hopewell (15-1-1) vs South Park (17-2)
Friday, November 2, 2018 – 8:05 pm kickoff
Highmark Stadium
GAME UPDATES
FINAL: South Park is your 2A champion, with a final of 1-0.
9:51 p.m. — Alright friends, I’m going down to the field, so I can get some video of the award presentations, which will happen in about 10 minutes, should the score still stand. Follow me on Twitter, @RachaelMcKriger, to see the updates.
9:46 p.m. — South Park is getting confident, as Nicole Clydesdale tries a cheeky little move against Hopewell goalkeeper Katelyn Ramaley. However, Ramaley comes up with a big save to keep Hopewell within one.
9:44 p.m.
Nora Ozimek (7) scores to give South Park the lead @pghsoccernow @RachaelMcKriger @PghSoccerScribe @PghSportsNow #WPIAL pic.twitter.com/NjIJ3tjKwq
— David Hague Photo (@DHPhoto11) November 3, 2018
9:40 p.m. — GOAL, SOUTH PARK. Nora Ozimek, the super substitute, scores on a beautifully set ball. She went one-on-one, inside of the box, with Hopewell goalkeeper Katelyn Ramaley. South Park leads, 1-0, with 22 minutes left.
9:38 p.m. — Hopewell playing with a lone striker — this time, it’s Raychel Speicher — is probably a terrible idea for this team. When Speicher gets the ball, all of her teammates are behind her, then she’s left facing five defenders. There’s no help for her. With that said, big corner kick coming for South Park.
9:36 p.m. — Taylor Glowa takes a free kick for South Park, but just like Hopewell’s free kick in the first half, it goes over everyone’s heads and into the arms of Vikings goalkeeper Katelyn Ramaley. It’s still scoreless with about 25 minutes left in this one.
9:32 p.m. — HUGE opportunity there for Haleigh Finale, as she goes one-on-one with Hopewell goalkeeper Katelyn Ramaley. Ramaley wins the battle, this time.
9:30 p.m. — Cristy Senskey of Hopewell tries her luck with a chip shot toward the left, but Ali Miklos, goalkeeper for South Park, is able to scoop it up, despite some pressure.
9:23 p.m. — Avery Miklos of South Park sends a shot int from about the top of the penalty box, but Katelyn Ramaley is all over that for Hopewell. It’s still scoreless on the ‘Mon.
9:22 p.m. — Second half is underway! If it’s still scoreless after 40 more minutes, we’re heading to extra time, friends.
9:12 p.m. — HALFTIME
Hopewell 0 – 0 South Park
9:12 p.m. — Ouch. Hopewell with a really nice move, as Raychel Speicher sending a quality cross over to Megan Diers, who just re-entered the match. However, Diers loses her footing and can’t connect her foot to the ball. Missed opportunity for Hopewell before the half ends.
9:09 p.m. — Hopewell’s free kick is essentially wasted, as it goes over every single player and into the arms of South Park goalkeeper Ali Miklos.
9:01 p.m. — Hopewell with their first corner of the game around the 29th minute. But, it proves to be no threat for South Park goalkeeper Ali Miklos. It’s still scoreless here at Highmark Stadium.
8:52 p.m. — Grace Albitz is back in the game for South Park.
8:51 p.m. — Second South Park substitution of the match is due to injury. Grace Albitz went down, but was able to bring herself back up. However, according to WPIAL rules, she was forced to substitute out for a bit and now Nora Ozimek is in.
8:48 p.m. — First substitution of the match has South Park’s Rachel Urquhart off and Danielle DeProspo on.
8:44 p.m. — Looked like Haleigh Finale with the shot on goal against Hopewell goalkeeper Katelyn Ramaley, but it lands right in her arms. South Park the more attacking team in this one. Hopewell has been playing a tight defense.
8:41 p.m. — Big play from Hopewell defender #28 Kazia Krotec, who prevented what could’ve been the opening goal for South Park. I believe it was Nicole Clydesdale dribbling for South Park. Then, on the counterattack, Raychel Speicher had the first real attempt for Hopewell. The midfielder had a long run and eventually found the side-netting with her shot. No trouble for South Park goalkeeper Ali Miklos.
8:38 p.m. — South Park earns a corner kick, but it’s no trouble for Vikings goalkeeper Katelyn Ramaley. The ball immediately hit the top netting, giving no harm to the Vikings defense.
8:36 p.m. — Looks like South Park is using a 4-4-2 diamond formation, which was a hit with the U.S. Men’s National Team in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. It essentially a lineup created by former USMNT head coach Jürgen Klinsmann. South Park’s head coach, Shelly Thropp, might be a fan? That’s a question we’ll have to ask later.
8:30 p.m — Kickoff! We’re underway here at Highmark Stadium!
8:28 p.m. — Starting lineup for the Hopewell Vikings.
XI: Katelyn Ramaley (GK); Lindsey Hysong, Raychel Speicher, Abigayle Hvizdak, Katryna McKay, Katie Callen, Cristy Senskey, Marlee Mancini, Kazia Krotec, Kylie Doran and Megan Diers.
Starting lineup for the South Park Eagles.
XI: Ali Miklos (GK); Nicole Clydesdale, Julianna Briggs, Taylor Glowa, Haleigh Finale, Maya Wertelet, Avery Miklos, Cassidy Zandier, Maggie Altschaffl, Rachel Urquhart and Grace Albitz.
8:09 p.m. — Hi folks! While John Krysinsky is out and about collecting interviews from the Mars vs. Oakland Catholic game — congratulations are in store for Oakland Catholic on their victory! — I’m going to be covering tonight’s Hopewell vs. South Park game. Since the Mars vs. Oakland Catholic game went to extra time, this game will be starting a little later than 8:05 p.m. Currently, teams just began the 15-minute warm up period.
PSN COVERAGE
Rachael McKriger – reporting
David Hague – photography
LIVE BROADCAST / STREAM
WPIAL SOCCER HISTORY
MATCH-UP TO WATCH
Can Hopewell break down South Park’s compact formation?
Interestingly, this is a match up of two girls soccer programs that have stepped down in classification this season from 3A to 2A.
Hopewell’s coach Bill Pfeifer may want to get a tape from South Park’s 3-1 loss to Yough earlier this year. That was the only time this season South Park gave up multiple goals. The Eagles have surrendered only eight goals all season, posting 14 shutouts.
MORE ON HOPEWELL
- After long tenure at Moon winning state titles and WPIAL crowns, Bill Pfeifer led Hopewell to a turn-around season. Hopewell were 4-2 winners over Burrell in the quarterfinals, then beat Deer Lakes 5-2 in the semifinal.
- The Vikings, whose lone loss came to Class AAA playoff qualifier West Allegheny, carry a nine-game winning streak into the WPIAL final.
- Hopewell’s attack is led by Senior forward Raychel Speicher, who has scored over 20 goals, while forward Katie Callen and midfielder Cristy Senskey are also dangerous players to watch.
- It took five years and a drop in classification, but for Hopewell, it will be its second appearance in a WPIAL soccer championship match.
- Speicher scored four goals, including the clincher in the 74th minute, to help the second-seeded Vikings (15-1-1) seal a 5-2 victory against Deer Lakes. The win clinched a spot in the final, scheduled for a yet-to-be-determined date and time at Highmark Stadium. In the four seasons since its first final appearance in 2013, Hopewell was 23-38-4.
MORE ON SOUTH PARK
- South Park’s program has been a perennial contender, reaching the WPIAL semifinals with regularity, but they haven’t won the whole thing since 2008, when they capped off three straight championships.
- The last time SP made it to the WPIAL final, they lost to Mars in 2015 at Highmark Stadium.
- Since its only defeat in 2A competition (that 3-1 loss to Yough in early October), the Eagles have outscored opponents 39-2.
- The Eagles have strong senior leadership, with midfielder Nicole Clydesdale, midfielder Avery Miklos and defender Cassidy Zandier. At the focal point of its attack are a pair of juniors: forward Haleigh Finale and midfielder Grace Albitz.
- Freshman Ali Miklos has been the primary goalkeeper for a team that has put up some impressive goals against and shutout totals.
THEY SAID IT
“It’s a big accomplishment to get there, and obviously we want to win the game. I know the seniors are looking forward to it (since we lost the last time they were there).” Shelly Thropp, South Park’s head coach, said.