KC girls soccer reaches D9 final for 15th straight season
KARNS CITY — With no shortage of players capable of finding the net, Karns City was not surprised to be facing a Forest Area team focused almost solely on keeping the Gremlins off the scoreboard.
The Fires’ strategy worked ... for a while.
KC freshman midfielder Hanna Dailey broke a scoreless stalemate when her shot from 20 yards beat Forest’s Emma McFarland to the goalkeeper’s right in the 60th minute.
The Fires never did challenge KC keeper Savanna Prescott and the Gremlins added a late goal in a 2-0 victory in a District 9 Class 1A semifinal playoff Wednesday at Diehl Stadium.
“I thought we really were the dominant team tonight,” said Gremlins’ coach Tracy Dailey. “It’s just tough to practice and prepare for a team that keeps three players within 18 yards of the net.
“We were sound on defense and the whole team contributed.”
Prior to scoring, the Gremlins’ opportunities evaporated into errant shots or ones stopped by McFarland, who made 16 saves in the game. She jumped to deflect an attempt off the foot of Emma Dailey from 30 yards in the 23rd minute. The sequence led to a Gremlins’ corner kick, which was nullified by a holding penalty on KC.
Forest (13-4-1) managed two free kicks in Karns City’s end late in the first half. In both cases, Emily Best booted the ball wide left of the net from between 35 and 40 yards.
The second half began much like the first played out. The field was heavily tilted in KC’s favor, though shots on net were not as plentiful. One attempt that did reach McFarland came from Hanna Dailey 25 yards from the net, but the goalkeeper made a diving save in the .
“She’s a brick wall,” Forest coach Joe Mays said of McFarland. “Our girls have taken a lot of good shots on her in practice and I told them that Emma’s the best goalie they’re going to see. In my eyes, she’s the best goalie in District 9.”
But less than 10 minutes later, Hanna Dailey found the back of the net for the only goal the Gremlins (16-4) would need.
Cece Morrow added a second goal in the 76th minute.
Hanna Dailey, Tracy Dailey’s daughter, does not take for granted the opportunity to contribute to a winning team.
“I’ve been watching Karns City girls soccer games for years,” she said. “I’m grateful to be part of this team and to be playing for a district championship.”
Playing for District 9 supremacy has become an annual tradition for the Gremlins, who will be doing so for the 15th straight year when they face Brockway, a 2-1 winner over top-seeded Elk County Catholic, next Wednesday at a site and time to be determined.
But in between all the victories is no shortage of hard work and sacrifice.
“It’s always special to get back to the championship game,” said Coach Dailey. “The seniors on this year’s team, I’ve been with them since they were playing U8.”
