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District 9 girls soccer: How Karns City continued its run on dominance with Class 1A title

BROOKVILLE — Katelyn VanDyke was feeling uneasy, but she wasn’t alone.

A number of Karns City girls soccer players had chances to put a shot past Brockway goalie Josie Orinko in the first 73 minutes of Wednesday’s District 9 Class 1A championship game, but the Gremlins were unable to break a scoreless tie.

Then, just as the 74th minute began, Layla Colsey played a ball in between two Rovers defenders to VanDyke, a freshman who broke the stalemate with a boot from 10 yards.

It was the only goal in a 1-0 decision that earned for KC a fourth consecutive district championship and 26th in 30 years.

“I was really getting frustrated. I kept playing the ball right to their goalie, a lot of us were,” VanDyke said of the empty scoring chances. “When I saw the ball go into the net, I was so relieved, so happy.”

It was VanDyke’s 23rd goal this season.

“I have contributed a lot more than I thought I would,” she said. “The whole team works so well together and that has helped me.”

KC coach Tracy Dailey saw potential in VanDyke.

“I knew she could be a dynamic player,” Dailey said. “She plays center back for her club team, but we put her at forward. That shows what kind of ability she has.”

KC goalie Savanna Prescott needed to stop just five shots in the game, but came up with a gem in the 78th minute. Nearly five minutes after KC had taken the lead, Brockway’s Madison Mortimer had squeezed her way past a KC defender with possession and was just feet in front of Prescott, who hit the ground just in time to make the save on the Rovers’ last legitimate chance to score.

Related Article: WPIAL soccer playoffs: South Fayette girls again deny Mars chance at district title berth with PKs

Prescott, a three-year starter, has battled through knee pain during the season.

“She missed five or six games at the start of the season,” Dailey said. “There are days when it really bothers her and others when it doesn’t.”

Related Article: WPIAL soccer playoffs: Madeline Marcotte leads Seneca Valley girls to 7th district final since 2003

Orinko did not have to extend herself on a number of her 13 saves, but she did have to dive or jump on several occasions to keep the Gremlins (16-4) off the scoreboard.

“She’s a four-year starter and it will be very difficult to replace her,” said Brockway coach Mike Puhala. “Really, the entire defense has played so well. We’re not a team that scores six goals per game. We score two and turn it over to our defense.”

Related Article: KC girls soccer returns to D-9 title game with 4-0 win

Wednesday’s result marked the third straight year that KC has defeated the Rovers (14-5-1) for the district crown.

“We played them two weeks ago and beat them 5-0, but I knew that would not matter tonight,” said Dailey. “I knew they would make things tough for us.”

Puhala is proud, but not surprised that his team had such a noticeable turnaround from the matchup in the regular season.

“It’s a testament to the girls,” he said. “They put in so much work in the offseason.”

The Gremlins will open the state playoffs Tuesday against the WPIAL runner-up, either Springdale or Winchester Thurston.

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