WPIAL soccer: Karly Majeski scores playoff winner for Seneca Valley

October 24, 2024 Last Updated: October 24, 2024 10:30 PM Sports

Seneca Valley goalie Sydney Postler passing downfield in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle

The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle

Seneca Valley defender Gianna Donatucci with a shot on goal saved by Upper St. Clair goalie Canryn Friday in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle

Seneca Valley goalie Sydney Postler passing downfield in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
The Seneca Valley Raiders defeated Upper St. Clair 1-0 in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
Seneca Valley defender Gianna Donatucci with a shot on goal saved by Upper St. Clair goalie Canryn Friday in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle

Seneca Valley goalie Sydney Postler passing downfield in a WPIAL Class 4A girls soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Seneca Valley High School. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle

JACKSON TWP — Karly Majeski let her instincts and natural ability take over — and it opened the door for Seneca Valley’s girls soccer team to reach the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals.

The Raiders and Upper St. Clair were mired in a scoreless tie following a first half that included few scoring opportunities. In the 51st minute, SV junior midfielder Maddie Marcotte booted the ball to Majeski, who was 20 yards directly in front of the Panther goal. Her shot was perfectly placed, in between the crossbar and a leaping Cam Friday.

It was the only goal in SV’s 1-0 victory at NexTier Stadium.

Majeski was so focused that she could not recall exactly where she was on the field or which teammate it was that fed her the ball.

“Sometimes, you just don’t think about anything else. You just concentrate on making a play,” she said. “But this win was a team effort. Everyone had to do their job for us to pull this out.”

The Raiders’ season was on the line after not playing a game for 15 days. They won Section 3 with an undefeated record (7-0-1) and were rewarded with a first-round bye.

“We scrimmaged Shaler last Friday. They were the only team that agreed to scrimmage us,” SV coach Mark Perry said. “The days before that, we’d have a hard day of practice, then an easy day. This past Monday is when we really started to go.

“I could see some rust on our part in the first half. With the ball at our feet, our skills were just a bit off. You can’t simulate the speed of a game in practice, but I thought we took control in the second half. Karly just had an incredible shot. That’s why she’s one of the best players in the WPIAL.”

The Panthers, who did not force SV’s Sydney Postler to make a save in the first half, challenged her with three shots in the second half, but could not find the net.

“Seneca Valley is good, they’re always good,” USC coach Zach Hamilton said. “They’re very organized. Their midfield six make it so difficult to break through to the back line.”

The Panthers (10-6-2) also took the field without a number of goal scorers out with injury.

Friday stopped nine shots in defeat.

SV (13-2-2) will take on Canon-McMillan, a 3-1 winner over Penn-Trafford, in a semifinal Monday at a site and time to be determined.

“If we continue to play strong defense, we have a chance,” Perry said.