A lapse of twelve minutes cost the Upper Perk field hockey team in a 2-1 loss to Owen J. Roberts in the Pioneer Athletic Conference semifinals on Tuesday night at the high school.

            After a strong UP first half that ended with the Tribe ahead 1-0 on a goal by Hope Flack, the Wildcats came out of intermission and dominated, scoring two goals within four minutes before Upper Perk could regain its equilibrium.

            Bridget Gallagher tied the game less than four minutes into the half, tipping Sarah Garritano's shot past Upper Perk net-minder Alyse Thompson.

            The Wildcats took the lead in a similar way a couple of minutes later after a corner set up a sequence of events that led to Bridget Guinan's go-ahead score.

            Before the goal, a false start sent Aiyi Young to midfield and left the Tribe a girl short in the circle. Thompson made an initial save after a scramble in front of her, but Guinan got her stick on a shot by Natalie Fuertsch to direct it past Thompson.

            "It was almost the exact same game as last year," noted Flack referring to a similar loss to the Wildcats. "We came out really strong in the first half and in the second half, we just kind of hang back and try to prevent them from scoring instead of attacking the goal."

            After an Upper Perk timeout, the Tribe went on the offensive, and put enough pressure on the Wildcats to gain three corners within a minute. However, they could not muster any shots on goal.

            But the Tribe was stepping it up on the offensive end. With about seven minutes left in the game, goalie Cassie Micklesavage robbed Flack from in close.

            The Tribe's last gasp was a corner with one minute remaining, but they could not get off a shot.

Flack had given the Tribe the lead with six and a half minutes left in a spirited first half that saw several good scoring chances at both ends of the field.  "I got a really good cross from [Abriana Gatto], and I put it in the cage," was how Flack described her score.  "I think Hope had a nice game. I think she was on fire and ready," said Coach Jamie Warren.

            Warren was disappointed in the outcome but happy with how her team played.

"I've seen growth so that's a good thing, but it's a shame because we wanted to be in the final game. They played hard. They gave it their all. All around the majority of the girls had a consistent game."

            While Owen J. will be facing Methacton (a 3-0 winner over Phoenixville in the other semifinal) for the PAC championship, Upper Perk (12-1, 16-3) will turn its attention to getting ready for the Districts which begin next week.  "Our goal is to make it to States. We're going to practice hard and try to come back from this loss," vowed Flack.

            Warren is hopeful that the team will attain a number three ranking and home field advantage for some of the games.

            "It was fun," Warren said of participating in the Final Four game. "Unfortunately we're not on the side we wanted to be on. We'll be back at it for Districts."