PIAA soccer playoffs: Seton LaSalle ekes past Karns City in a defensive Class 1A quarterfinal
Phoebe Brandon battles multiple Seton LaSalle players for possession of the ball in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Goalie Savanna Prescott becomes emotional after a 1-0 loss to Seton LaSalle in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City’s Katelyn VanDyke kicks to the goal to try and score for the Gremlins against Seton LaSalle in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City’s Phoebe Brandon dribbles the ball down the field in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 11, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Phoebe Brandon battles multiple Seton LaSalle players for possession of the ball in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Goalie Savanna Prescott becomes emotional after a 1-0 loss to Seton LaSalle in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City’s Katelyn VanDyke kicks to the goal to try and score for the Gremlins against Seton LaSalle in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City’s Phoebe Brandon dribbles the ball down the field in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 11, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City Gremlin girls soccer team fell to Seton LaSalle 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
WEXFORD — The ball didn’t want to go in.
Not for the first 56 minutes, anyway.
It took a wide-open lane and Elizabeth Sokos’ maneuvering and straightaway shot around Karns City goalkeeper Savanna Prescott for Seton LaSalle to vault ahead Saturday.
The District 9 champion Gremlins couldn’t produce the equalizer in a 1-0 PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal playoff loss at North Allegheny’s Newman Stadium. Seton LaSalle, the WPIAL third seed, will face the district’s champion, Springdale, which beat Bishop Guilfoyle 2-1 in another quarterfinal, in the state semifinals 7 p.m. Tuesday at North Allegheny High School.
Karns City’s Phoebe Brandon dribbles the ball down the field against Seton LaSalle in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 11, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Rebels’ Kennedy Bakota had a shot thwack off the frame’s crossbar in the 46th minute. The teams combined for six off-target attempts before Sokos finally cracked the scoreboard.
Karns City (17-5) had consecutive corner kicks early and late in the latter half, but none of the four were fruitful. The Gremlins’ only accurate second-half chance was Katelyn VanDyke’s direct boot, which was gobbled up by Seton LaSalle (17-3-2) goalkeeper Regan Mazur with less than seven minutes remaining.
“We came in and we knew it was going to be a good game, back and forth — and that’s what it was,” Gremlins coach Tracy Dailey said. “At this stage of the game, in the soccer season and state playoffs, that’s what it should be.
“I was glad we had opportunities. Unfortunately, we didn’t finish ours.”
Karns City finished with only three shots on goal.
“The pressure that was up top was tremendous,” Rebels coach T.J. Cherry said. “Our forwards did a great job of making sure they got nothing free and they couldn’t swing the ball. ... Our back line plays great in front of (Mazur).”
The Rebels didn’t just hunker down after going ahead, however. Prescott kept Sydney Morgan from doubling her side’s advantage in the 69th minute, then Bakota went wide again soon after.
Karns City goalie Savanna Prescott becomes emotional after a 1-0 loss to Seton LaSalle in a PIAA Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 11, 2024, at North Allegheny High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The first half was largely defensive, as well. Seton LaSalle had a pair of shots on target, one from a tough angle and the other a slow roller into Prescott’s embrace.
A Gremlins’ shot on goal was redirected with a diving save by Mazur in the 30th minute. Three minutes after that, Phoebe Brandon had her on-the-run try nuzzle between the football goalpost and the net’s crossbars. Prescott pounced on a chance for Bakota 40 seconds later.
Karns City had three corner kicks in the initial 40 minutes. Mazur was aggressive on a pair of them, climbing the ladder to palm Sarah Dodd’s offerings away from danger.
Gremlins junior defender Trinity McFarland was carted off the field in the middle of the 38th minute with what appeared to be a leg injury.
