KARNS CITY — Hannah Knoll was thrust into the role of goalkeeper for the Karns City girls soccer team last season because of a freak rash of injuries.

Now back at her usual position at midfield, the junior is making an immediate impact.

Knoll scored three goals, including the game-winner seven minutes into overtime, as the Gremlins beat Freeport 5-4 Saturday afternoon in a wild season opener for both teams at Karns City High School.

Karns City led 2-0 on the strength of goals from Kaylee Smith and Knoll and 3-1 in the second half on Knoll's second goal of the game.

But Freeport stormed back to tie the game at 4-4 at the end of regulation.

“We were definitely the better team in the first half,” said Karns City coach Tracy Dailey. “They were the best team in the second half.”

Brooke Stahlman also scored for Karns City.

Freeport got goals from four different players: Sidney Shemanski, Kaylee Comperatore, Lexi Dell and the goal that sent the match to overtime off the toe of Sarah Lipniskis.

“I was pleased we were able to score four goals,” said Freeport coach Brittni Grenninger. “Karns City is always a good team. I think in the first game I saw many great things. We just made a few mistakes.”

The Yellowjackets had 19 shots on goal.

Karns City avenged a 2-1 loss to Freeport in the first round of the PIAA Class AA playoffs.

The Gremlins beat the Yellowjackets, 3-2, in the regular season in 2016.

Villa Maria 3, Butler 2 (double overtime) — Liz Simms scored the equalizer with less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation, but Villa got the game-winner in the second overtime after Golden Tornado keeper Anna Voelker was injured.

Brittnie Spithaler also scored for the Golden Tornado (1-1).

Simms assisted on the Spithaler goal.

Knoch 2, Shaler 1 — Lindsie Galbreath had a goal and an assist as the Knights opened the season with this victory.

Jenna Stallsmith scored the other goal and Shiann Thomas had an assist for Knoch.

Boys Soccer

Stevie Teorsky, Bryce Hanby and Hunter Hardin each scored goals as Freeport opened the season with a 3-0 shutout over Armstrong.

Senior keeper Giovanni Pugliese stopped four shots in 75 minutes of action. Sophomore Luke Heider played the final 15 minutes in goal and had two saves to preserve the shutout.

Pugliese also had an assist.

Slippery Rock drops a pair — Ryan Davey scored the only goal in Slippery Rock's 4-1 loss to Fairview Saturday.

The Rockets (0-2) also dropped a match on Sunday, 3-0, to McDowell.

Seneca Valley 2, Norwin 2 — The Raiders opened the season with a tie.

North Allegheny 3, Mars 0 — The Planets were blanked in this non-section opener.

Knoch splits — The Knights (1-1) opened up the season with a 3-2 win over Beaver Saturday before falling to Freedom 6-1 Sunday.

Volleyball

Maria Lucas finished the day with 26 kills, nine aces and 23 digs as Butler won its season-opening tournament Saturday.

The Golden Tornado lost to Avonworth in pool play, but came back to beat the Antelopes 25-18, 25-15 in the championship match.

Julia Gibson had 18 kills, three blocks and five aces; Sophia Lucas added 39 digs and three aces; and Tabitha Walker racked up 49 assists, 26 digs and 14 kills for the Golden Tornado.

Cross Country

Noah Beveridge ran a scintillating time of 15 minutes, 27.9 second to lead the Butler boys to the team championship at the McDowell Invitational.

Beveridge took the lead at the half-mile point and was never challenged, winning by more than 30 seconds. He finished a half-seciond off the course record.

Brett Brady finished seventh, Aden Dressler 13th, Robbie Hays 23rd and Tim Porter 31st in the 23-team field.

The Butler girls placed fourth as a team, led by Maggie Welty and her second-place finish with a time of 19:20.

Chelsey Kabel placed 11th, Carly Bauer 38th, Erin LeMay 39th and Emma LeMay 58th for the Golden Tornado.