By Matt Corbett
HERSHEY -- Cathy Keiser let out a deep breath. It might have been the first time in, oh, about an hour and a half that she was able to breathe again.
The Selinsgrove hockey coach had just watched her Seals survive their toughest test of the season, and it hadn't been easy. Ashley Youngman's goal with 5:30 remaining in overtime lifted the Seals to a dramatic 2-1 victory over Archbishop Carroll in a PIAA quarterfinal Saturday at Hershey High School.
The thrilling finish has District 4 champion Selinsgrove (22-1) in the state semifinals for the second time in four years. The Seals will take on District 3 champion Donegal, a 5-1 winner over Indian Valley, on Tuesday back at Hershey High at 4 p.m.
"Who wouldn't be drained after a game like that?" Keiser said after her exhalation. "I'd rather be out there playing than (watching from the sidelines.)"
A close-to-the-vest first half was followed by a wide-open second half, which led to the nail-biting overtime as two tired teams attempted to advance to the state semis.
The 7-on-7 extra period began with a bang in the first minute when Carroll's Hannah Schmitt was open in front of the cage, but her shot went wide right. Five minutes in, Selinsgrove's Paige Bordner took a cross from Hope Burke just left of the cage, but her deflection went wide left.
The winning goal began with a fantastic save by senior keeper Amber Wendt -- one of nine on the day -- who came all the way to the top of the circle to thwart a one-on-one push by Kelsey Byrne. The gamble paid off as Burke collected the ball on the run near midfield. She passed ahead to Youngman, who found herself one-on-one against Carroll (14-3) keeper Mia DePlato. DePlato came all the way out to challenge, sprawling to make the initial stop. But Youngman collected the ball and moved to her right, firing the game-winner into an empty cage from just inside the circle. Her ecstatic teammates rushed the field and piled on after the winning goal.
"This feels great. It was a team thing," Youngman said after her game-winner. "I was a little nervous, but I got my stick on it in time."
The Seals hadn't been in an overtime game this season, but Youngman said the Seals felt confident heading into the extra frame.
"We practice (7-on-7) a lot, and with Amber back there it's great practice," she said.
The first half was played primarily between the 25s, as evidenced by the halftime stats: The Patriots were held without a shot or penalty corner, while the Seals managed just one of each. But after adjustments at intermission, the second half opened with a bang. Selinsgrove started earning corners, and it paid off when Candice Smith converted on the Seals' fourth of the half. Claire Steininger fed Hope Burke at the top of the circle, who passed to Smith for a quick one-timer from the left side and a 1-0 lead.
But Carroll regrouped, producing five corners during the closing 15 minutes of regulation. The Patriots tied it at 1 with 6:25 left on a corner, with Melissa Brosious scoring off an assist by Byrne.
Less than a minute later the Patriots were awarded a penalty stroke after a scrum near the top of the circle, but Wendt easily smothered Byrne's dribbler from seven yards away.
"That was a test for Amber, and she was ready," Keiser said. "It wasn't the best shot, but she came up big. Sometimes those are the toughest ones to defend."
Wendt was stellar the rest of the way, with key saves over the closing minutes of regulation and 10 minutes of overtime. Now it's on to the semis, with the Seals in search of their first state final.
"A game like this gives you confidence and allows you to see some areas you need to work on," Keiser said. "Seeing the way Amber and our defense came through today, it can only help."
