Tribe rolls to state playoff soccer win despite losing top scorer to injury

            Despite losing its top scorer less than a minute into last weekend's PIAA Class 3A Championship game, Upper Perkiomen's girls soccer team had more than enough offensive firepower to advance. Sarah Straup and Jada Roderick picked up the slack in a 6-0 victory over Valley View.

            Straup and Roderick, who alternated at left offensive wing, made up for the

Junion midfielder Megan Cairns jumps to head the ball during Upper Perkiomen's 6-0 win over Valley View.

absence of prolific scorer Sara Edwards, who entered the game with 34 goals this season. They combined for half the team's goals during the quarterfinal round win Saturday, Nov. 12 at Northern Lehigh High School.

            "We were hoping for something great," said Straup, a sophomore who lives in Pennsburg.  Straup finished with two goals. Roderick also scored.

            "They both played really well," head coach Mike Freed said. "We got a lot of production from that position. That's what you hope for. It's very gratifying."

            Roderick said she was not surprised by the lopsided outcome. She credited the team's success to its skill and connection. According to Straup, Edwards' injury motivated her to play harder.

            "We're one big family," said Rockerick, a senior who lives in Pennsburg.

            The undefeated Tribe (24-0-1) was scheduled to take on District 3 runner-up Greencastle-Antrim (21-2-1) at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Northeastern High School, north of York, in the semifinal round. The threat of cold temperatures and rain forced officials to delay the game by 24 hours.

            A win over the Blue Devils would advance the team to Friday's state title game, against either Moon Township or Mars, scheduled for 4 p.m., at Eagle View Middle School in Mechanicsburg.  "The girls displayed no nervousness," Freed said. "They are embracing the moment."

            Sarah Fisher registered one goal and one assist. Lauren Powers and Mary Kate Sitko also scored for the Tribe, which posted a season high 16 of its total 19 shots on goal from inside the penalty box. Morgan Sweed, Kyra Lesko and Kylee Casola each notched an assist.

            Midway through the first half – with the team ahead 4-0 – the coach decided to hold out Edwards, who appeared to suffer an upper right leg injury after colliding with Cougars goalkeeper Ryien Carroll less than a minute into the game.

            "Someone who has not seen us play would not believe we could do what we did after losing our top scorer," Freed said of Edwards, who has scored a team-high 34 goals. "But Sara is just one piece of our offense. We have so many players who can fill that role."

            Upper Perkiomen's defense allowed the District Two champion Cougars just three shots on goal and registered its 11th shutout of the season. The unit neutralized the effectiveness of forwards Eva Canevari and Mya Cesarini, the Cougars top two offensive players.

            Straup opened the scoring with 27:07 left in the first half. After taking a pass from Fisher, she touched the ball past a charging Carroll.

            Less than two minutes later, Roderick doubled the lead off an assist from Lesko. The senior from Pennsburg converted from close range after a shot went through Carroll's arms. The goalkeeper left the game after colliding with Roderick.

            Midway through the first half, the Tribe converted a corner kick. Powers, a senior defender, found the back of the net off a pass from Sweed with 19:55 left before halftime. "I thought the minute [the third goal] went in there was no way Valley View could come back," the coach said.

            Fisher delivered an unassisted goal 24 seconds later. She dribbled past a defender and beat Valley View goalkeeper Emmelia Rucks with a hard shot from the left wing. "Teams get in trouble when they allow us to score quickly," the coach said.

            Straup's second goal, with just under 10 minutes remaining in the half, staked her team to a 5-0 halftime advantage. Fisher's pass set up the goal from the right wing.

            Sitko's goal, with 16:38 remaining in the second half off a pass from Casola, capped the scoring. A few minutes later, Freed began to substitute freely.

            Addisyn Fluckey, a sophomore defender, entered the game with 12 minutes left. Alex Kronk, a sophomore, and freshman goalkeeper Jenna Langenback came off the bench with eight minutes to go.

            With 3:15 remaining, forwards Riley Rahill and Alex Cannon got into the game. Freed described providing a reward to his backup players for their dedication and work in practice as the dream scenario.