Andy, Things could have gone better for Fox Chapel this afternoon. Henderson came ready to play and really limited Fox Chapel's chances. Although Fox Chapel had a couple of corner kicks, it was all Henderson in the first half as they took a 1-0 lead. The kept up the pressure and ended up winning 4-0. Fox Chapel really only had one real shot at a score all game. The keeper came out, but the ball was loose with the keeper on the ground. However, by the time the shot was fired, the keeper was back up and deflected it. Henderson will now get a rematch with Norwin, who won 3-0 over McDowell. Although it doesn't look like FC will make ESPN (I didn't see any cameras today), they did make today's Philadelphia Inquirer:
Henderson girls in fight for state finals
By Brian Miller
INQUIRER CORRESPONDENT
Two girls' soccer teams with plenty of playoff experience will play for
a PIAA Class AAA finals berth as West Chester Henderson takes on
Fox Chapel in the state semifinals at 2 p.m. today at Shippensburg
University.
Strath Haven's girls' team will try to qualify for the Class AA finals.
The Panthers (21-2-1) will play Westmont Hilltop (19-2-1) in their
semifinal game at noon today, also at Shippensburg.
Henderson (24-0) is in its fourth state playoff and has made the state
finals the last two years, winning it all in 1995. The Foxes (19-4-1)
have now advanced to the state semifinal round in three of the last four
seasons.
The Warriors, who are the top-ranked team in the National Soccer
Coaches Association poll, advanced with a 3-1 quarterfinal victory
over Penn-Trafford on Saturday.
Fox Chapel won its quarterfinal game in impressive fashion, humbling
Perry, 7-1.
Both Henderson and Fox Chapel would appear to play the same type
of game, creating offense through one- and two-touch passes through
the midfield.
Fox Chapel coach Jen Satler said her team is "about average in size,"
but she does feel she has a "highly skilled group of players."
The Foxes have a sophomore in the nets in Nicole Niman, who has
recorded 12 shutouts this season.
"But I'd like to say our whole defense has the 12 shutouts," said
Satler.
"I think we have a tremendous defense. We really limit the number of
shots on goal, and that's a credit to our entire defense."
Henderson, with Mary Jo Markle in the nets, has recorded a
school-record 18 shutouts this season.
Fox Chapel had a chance to knock off defending state champion
Norwin in the District 7 finals as the Foxes took a 1-0 lead on the
Knights.
But Norwin came back to claim its second straight district
championship with a 2-1 victory. Norwin beat Henderson, 1-0, in the
state finals last season.
The winner of today's semifinal will advance to the state championship
game, set for 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Messiah College's Starr Field.
Strath Haven's girls had to wait for the outcome of yesterday's game
between Central Columbia and Westmont Hilltop to determine their
semifinal opponent.
The Panthers are in the state playoffs for the first time. The Class AA
championship also will be played on Saturday at Messiah, with kickoff
slated for 11 a.m. |
