PHOTO GALLERY | Late goal pushes Central Cambria girls into District 6-2A soccer final
· Yahoo Sports
EBENSBURG, Pa. – The Central Cambria High School girls soccer team generated plenty of scoring opportunities throughout Monday’s District 6 Class 2A semifinal at the Red Devilplex.
But coach Gary Simmons’ sixth-seeded team didn't convert until the final minutes in a 1-0 victory over seventh-seeded Bald Eagle Area.
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Sophomore Kaydence Sinclair’s goal with 5:35 on the second-half clock, and senior goalkeeper Julia Murphy's shutout led Central Cambria into the 6-2A final against Tyrone, which upset top-seeded Cambria Heights in penalty kicks.
PHOTO GALLERY | Central Cambria girls defeat Bald Eagle Area 1-0 in D6-2A soccer semifinal
“I’m really proud of my girls,” Simmons said. “They’ve done a nice job this year. It’s been a long time since the Central Cambria girls have won a playoff game, let alone two in a row.”
The 9-9-2 Red Devils snapped a drought, according to Simmons’ unofficial research.
“The furthest I could go back is 20 years,” the coach said. “We’ve made four playoff appearances in a row now. Prior to that, they had three in the 2000-teens. That’s the only ones I could find. All of them until this season ended in the quarterfinals.”
Central Cambria upset third-seeded Forest Hills (2-1) in Thursday's quarterfinal, and Bald Eagle defeated second-seeded Richland 1-0.
The manner in which Bald Eagle Area defeated Richland had Simmons concerned at intermission Monday.
“We really controlled the first half and had the better opportunities, by far. We just couldn’t finish,” Simmons said. “The second half, we came out, and they controlled the game. They made some adjustments at halftime. They moved some girls around. They were taking it to us.
“I told the girls at halftime, ‘It’s only going to take one. That’s what they did to Richland.' They got one (in the quarterfinals). Richland dominated that game. I said, ‘Let’s not let that happen to us.’ ”
Murphy made five saves, and Bald Eagle Area goalkeeper Cami Walker totaled nine stops.
Sinclair tallied the game’s lone goal by winning a race up the field, outpacing defenders before placing a shot that got past Walker.
“It definitely was teamwork," Sinclair said. "I couldn't have done it without my teammates. We did really good passing the ball. We weren’t making our shots, and then it finally came. I just shot it.”
Sinclair said the Red Devils maintained their composure during Bald Eagle Area’s early second-half surge.
“At the beginning (of the second half), they came out more aggressive and we were more laid back,” Sinclair said. “So, we just stuck together, picked up our pace and just got really hyped out of nowhere. We ended up pulling off a win.
“I’m excited. It’s a new record and I’m glad I get to do it with these girls.”