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SOUTH CENTRE TWP. — Time after time, Karaline Stelma keeps coming up with game-changing plays in critical moments.
It happens with such regularity, Wyoming Valley West fans are convinced she carries a magical touch.
Stelma did it again Saturday, scoring the only goal against a bullish Bangor defense to lift the Spartans to a 1-0 victory in a PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal game at Central Columbia High School.
“It’s just kind of like you’ve got the right touch,” Stelma smiled.
Whatever she has, it works.
Stelma scored the only goal of a Valley West’s 2-1 state championship loss last year, all three goals of the team’s District 2 playoff opener this season and added an assist on the game’s first goal before scoring the last in a 4-0 victory last week that gave the Spartans their third straight District 2 title and second straight state playoff berth.
Now, she’s leading them back to the PIAA semifinals Tuesday, when the 16-3-1 Spartans will face Palmyra, which upset defending state champ Villa Maria, 2-1 in overtime iin another quarterfinal Saturday.
“I think she, first, loves her team,” Valley West coach Linda Fithian said, “and will do anything for them. She’s a competitor. And she does not like to lose.”
Stelma made sure Valley West didn’t by using a crafty move that produced just enough for victory.
After Emily Latoski’s hard shot was blocked in the second half, Stelma scooped up the rebound, dribbled to the right of an off-balance Bangor goalie Morgan Pysher and tucked her shot into the cage with 17:57 remaining.
“I was like, ‘I’ve got to get this in,’” Stelma said. “I got the ball, moved around her (Pysher) and shot it.”
That ended a gritty run by upstart Bangor, which made its first-ever state playoff run a strong one.
The District 11 champion Slaters, who finished 21-2-1, flooded passing lanes and frustrated Valley West with an aggressive defense while holding their own in a scoreless tie for more than 42 minutes.
“They played very well for not having been here before,” Fithian said.
Only some superb play by Spartans junior goalie Sydney Rusnock — who made two brilliant saves on penalty corners in the first half — kept Valley West from falling behind.
“She’s fantastic,” Valley West goalie coach Diane Webster said. “She’s been terrific all season. She’s been amazing all the years we’ve had her.
“She’s probably one of the best goalies we’ve had come through Wyoming Valley West.”
Stelma, though, may be one of the biggest difference-makers.
She helped hold the Spartans together through a frazzling start — “She’s our team captain, leads by example on and off the field,” Fithian said — before showing them the way to the state semifinals.
“It’s very frustrating. You want to make a big statement scoring in the first half,” Stelma said. “We kind of just all settled down. We had to get control of the ball and work on our passing and get the ball up the field quicker. We just got it done.
“That’s all that matters.”
PIAA Class 2A Quarterfinals
Valley West 1, Bangor 0
Bangor`0`0 — 0
Valley West`0`1 — 1
Second half — 1. WVW, Karaline Stelma (Emily Latoski), 17:57.
Shots — BAN 3; WVW 11. Saves — BAN 10 (Morgan Pysher); WVW 3 (Sydney Rusnock). Penalty corners — BAN 6; WVW 10.
