Abriana Gatto had an extra 27 minutes Tuesday afternoon to score her 100th career goal. However, Gatto couldn't reach the milestone and Upper Perkiomen

Upper Perk goalie Lynnsi Joyce deflects a shot on goal in Tuesday's District One Class 2A playoff game at Gwynedd Mercy Academy.

couldn't avoid a season ending loss.

            Gabby Lorenzo's goal with just over two minutes left in the second overtime period lifted Gwynedd Mercy Academy to a 5-4 victory in the opening round of the District One Class 2A playoffs.

            Lorenzo dribbled around a defender and beat Upper Perkiomen goalkeeper Lynssi Joyce with a low shot to propel the No. 6 seeded Monarchs to the second round.

            Gatto, a senior attacker who helped the visiting Indians (11-9) rally from a three-goal deficit, said she cared more about the outcome than her goal totals.

            "We play for each other," said Gatto, a four-year starter. "I wanted to score one more goal for my teammates. We wanted to win."

            Head coach Jamie Warren lauded the career contributions of Gatto, who finished with 99 goals. Warren said she cared more about the milestone than the player.  "Today we celebrate 99 goals," the coach said.

            Upper Perkiomen scored all four goals on penalty corners within an eight-minute stretch during the second half to overcome a 3-0 halftime deficit and a 4-1 hole. Gatto scored twice and added an assist. AiYi Young finished with a goal and two assists, while Morgan Fiorito added an assist.

            "Penalty corners haven't been our strength all season," Warren said. "But we added a few plays, and the girls came through."

            Kylene Gooch's tally with 19:22 left in the second half capped a three-goal flurry and forced a 4-4 tie. Her tip-in on a pass from Young marked the first time they were able to erase an early hole this season. Gatto said the team came out flat but, gained enthusiasm with every goal.

"The girls proved to themselves that they could come back," Warren said.

            Gwynedd Mercy Academy coach Alex McMahan lauded the Indians' second half determination.  "I don't ever want our team to be in that situation," she said. "But if we are, I hope we respond the same way they did. This game was a huge test of our team's character."

            According to Warren, the 11th seeded Indians matched their opponent's style in the second half by playing quick and intercepting connecting passes.

            Neither team scored during the first of two 15-minute overtime periods. Both teams have multiple scoring opportunities during the 7 vs. 7 format. In the second extra period, both teams earned several penalty corners, but couldn't convert. Then, less than three minutes before a penalty shootout, Lorenzo ended the suspense for the Monarchs.

            "We had a few chances to score in the overtimes," Gatto said. "But we couldn't find a way to put the ball in the cage."

            With just two senior starters (Gatto and Fiorito), and a third in the program (Jordan Leister), Warren called the current season a valuable learning experience. The Indians qualified for the Pioneer Athletic Conference playoffs with four ninth graders in the starting lineup. Three of them - Luci Carpenter, Takoda Wells and Joyce - played the entirety of the extra periods in the district game.

            The coach expressed hope that next year's team would resume its development at a similar level next season.