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LEHMAN TWP. — As soon she could see the ball crossed the line, Kyra Apaliski was buried in a mob of white-and-pink jerseys.
In their fourth meeting of the season, Lake-Lehman bested Holy Redeemer 3-2 in overtime Monday to earn a District 2 Class 2A championship berth. The second-seeded Black Knights will play Dunmore on Wednesday for the district crown.
Lake-Lehman notches its first PIAA state tournament berth in over a decade.
“It’s amazing; this team is absolutely incredible,” Lake-Lehman coach Kelly Adamshick said. “They’re pretty much freshmen and juniors playing on this team. It’s incredible to see them fight for what they want.”
The black turf was bound to produce a stage for eerie results on Halloween but the semifinal turned out to be predictable, in a sense. The Black Knights and Royals went to overtime for the third time this season.
Apaliski put away the game-winning goal in the 93rd minute. She booted a 19-yard strike that scooted out of the goalkeeper’s reach and into the net.
“Well, I didn’t even think it was going to go in because I thought the goalie actually got her hands on it,” Apaliski said. “She just missed it.”
The district semi lacked many of the theatrics that plagued their last meeting. Just eight days ago, Lake-Lehman beat the Royals by the same 3-2 overtime score in a game that saw injuries to top players, six bookings, two ejections and a midfield fight.
Lake-Lehman came back from a two-goal deficit over the final half-hour of regulation. Abby Paczewski cut the deficit in half in the 51st on an unassisted goal that was batted around in the box.
Lexi Concklin evened the contest at two apiece in the 65th minute. Concklin booted a 40-yard kick that was misplayed by the goal line and trickled into the net.
The lack of physicality boosted Holy Redeemer for the first 50 minutes. The Royals controlled possession for most of the way and received a pair of goals from leading scorer Annie Bagnall. She gave the Royals a one-goal lead in the 14th minute when she left-footed an 18 yard shot to the right corner of the net. Later in the 27th, Bagnall connected on a shot from 25 yards away for the early 2-0 lead.
Adamshick said her team changed formations in the second half and “it gave us a lot more opportunities.”
Bagnall scored the past six Holy Redeemer goals scored against Lake-Lehman over the span of four games.
Lake-Lehman left Holy Redeemer hanging by a thread in the overtime period. MacKenzie Love hit the far post in the 83rd minute. Four minutes later, the Black Knights hit the same spot – just hovering against the end of the line – that left the crowd stunned on their feet.
“It was like (the win) was there and we were just waiting and waiting,” Adamshick said. “There were opportunities – and it was off the post. It was just excitement and all around craziness. Halloween!”
Seemingly, the Royals’ best chance to silence the Black Knights came with a 2-1 lead in the 61st. Bagnall’s hat trick plans fell through when her short-ranged shot was stymied by Stephanie Ayers.
Ayers finished with six saves. Holy Redeemer keeper Jocelyn Kosik provided 10 saves.
DISTRICT 2 Class 2A Semifinal
Lake-Lehman 3, Holy Redeemer 2 (OT)
Holy Redeemer`2`0`0`—`2
Lake-Lehman`0`2`1`—`3
First half — 1. HR Annie Bagnall, 14th minute; 2. HR Bagnall, 27th. Second half — 3. LL Abby Paczewski, 51st; 4. LL Lexi Concklin, 65th. Overtime — 5. LL Kyra Apaliski, 93rd
Shots — HR 8, LL 13. Saves — HR 10 (Jocelyn Kosik); LL 6 (Stephanie Ayers). Corner kicks — HR 3, LL 11.