An overtime loss in the District One Class 2A title game over the weekend left Upper Perkiomen's field hockey feeling shock and disappointment. However, the defeat couldn't keep the players down. Three days later, the Indians rolled to a 6-0 victory over Archbishop Carroll in the opening round of the PIAA Class 2A Tournament.

            Takoda Wells and Kylene Gooch each finished with a goal and an assist to lead

Upper Perkiomen's Takoda Wells, left, and AiYi Young box in a Merion Mercy Academy player during the Dist- rict One Class 2A title game.

the Tribe (20-5) on Tuesday afternoon at The Proving Grounds in Plymouth Township. Bella Carpenter, Luci Carpenter, Jenna Fiorito and Colleen Creneti also scored.

            AiYi Young posted two assists and Lynnsi Joyce stopped three shots. Carly Eidle added one save for Upper Perkiomen, which posted its first state tournament victory since a 3-2 victory over Donegal on Nov. 5, 2013. The team advances to a quarterfinal round game against Palmyra, the District Three champion, at 1 p.m. Saturday at Twin Valley High School.

            In the district title game, Alexandria Lavelle's overtime goal period lifted the No. 5 seeded Merion Mercy Academy to a 4-3 victory on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Methacton High School. The opposition tested the Tribe's defense with several fast, aggressive players, according to head coach Jamie Warren.

            "They were really powerful up front," she said. "They were really fast and good stick handlers."

            AiYi Young finished with two goals and an assist for the No. 3 seeded Indians, who had their nine-game winning streak snapped. Luci Carpenter also scored and Lynnsi Joyce stopped 12 shots.

            "Everybody was playing at the top of their game," said Young, who described the game as epic. "Both sides were very intense. It was really fun."

            Upper Perkiomen's first district title game appearance since 2016 featured three more goals on penalty corners, a display of its depth and consecutive penalties against both team's goalkeepers. The team was forced to settle for the silver medal when Lavelle ended the game on an untimed penalty corner at the end of the first of two 15 minute periods.

            Joyce, one of just four teammates inside the penalty circle, charged the initial shooter and deflected the initial shot. However, the sophomore could not stop Lavelle's rebound shot.

            "Lynnsi is an aggressive goalkeeper," Warren said. "In that situation, the opposition can have five or six players in the area, so it's a real disadvantage. And she has to make split second decisions."

            The Tribe continued to excel on penalty corners, converting on three of five opportunities. Young's initial goal, on a shot from the top of the circle, less than nine minutes into the game, forged a 1-1 tie. Bella Carpenter's tally from the left wing, off a pass from Young, put the team ahead 2-1.

            "The thing about penalty corners is that converting one early can really build a team's confidence," Warren said.

            Three minutes later, Grace Lopresti's goal pulled the Golden Bears even 2-2 at halftime. They controlled the play early in the second half, however Upper Perkiomen regained a lead, at 3-2, when Young converted a pass from Gooch with 17:10 left in regulation.

            According to Warren, the team's significant improvement on penalty corners has been an equal combination of determination and development. She said Gooch, a sophomore who has notched 12 assists in her second season as the primary inserter, has made significant strides.

            Young, Wells and Bella Carpenter, mainstays on the corner play, have been joined by a have joined by Ashlyn Gatto and Creneti. On most occasions, Gooch feeds the ball to Young at the top of the circle. From there, the senior decides to take a shot or looks for an open teammate, according to Warren.

            "We've got a couple options," the coach said. "We want the players to make the decisions."

            However, the Indians didn't earn another penalty corner in the second half against Merion Mercy. An ankle injury to Fiorito, a forward, further limited their offensive effectiveness. Warren said she figured her team would need to add a fourth goal to win.

            "I never had any question that they were going to come back," the coach said. "Our girls handled the pressure well. Mistakes are going to happen. What I care about is how quickly you recover."

            Both teams couldn't take advantage of penalties called against each goalkeeper. With 4:45 left in the second half, Joyce was forced to the penalty box. A referee told Warren that the player grabbed an opposing player's stick. The coach disputed the call, saying she suspects a Merion Mercy player got her stick caught in Joyce's pad.

            Eidle filled in admirably, recording one save. Warren credited the senior's character and work ethic.

            "I had confidence in Carly," the coach said. "She works hard every day."

            Forty five seconds after that whistle, Bears goalkeeper Kristen Rake was forced to temporarily leave the game after receiving a green card. According to Young, the goalkeeper tacked Jess Traynor. Warren said the play should have resulted in a penalty stroke.

            The overtime period forced the Indians to use more substitutions than usual, including Margo May, Syndey Crossin, Eidle and Traynor.