WHITEHALL -- The Selinsgrove High School field hockey team received some attractive hardware, along with some nice parting gifts, following Saturday's PIAA Class AA championship game.

But much like a mall shopper who has to settle for their second choice because the first is sold out, the style and color weren't what the Seals were looking for. They had to settle for silver instead of gold.

Corrine McConville scored on a controversial penalty stroke with 8:38 remaining in overtime as Lehighton defeated Selinsgrove 1-0 in a thrilling PIAA Class AA championship game at the Zephyr Sports Complex. It was the first trip to the state finals for either team, but only the Indians were smiling at the end after completing a perfect 25-0 season. Many of the Seals were in tears, however, after their first chance at a state title came up just short.

"It was a great year, and we kept fighting to the very end," said Selinsgrove coach Cathy Keiser, whose Heartland Athletic Conference Division I and District 4 champions finished 23-2. Both losses came against Lehighton by identical 1-0 scores, including a road setback Oct. 17, near the end of the regular season. "It's just so amazing to be here in the finals at states. There are about 150 schools that play hockey in Class AA, and to be No. 1 or 2 is a great feeling. We're a small town, and these girls just love the game and play with heart, and it's been a fun road. Whether we have the silver or gold, it feels good.

"But not as good," she added.

The disputed finish came as Lehighton senior forward Vanessa Rimbey broke free on a breakaway about six minutes into the seven-on-seven extra period. As Rimbey streaked into the circle from the left side, Seals senior keeper Amber Wendt came out to challenge her. Wendt dove for the ball about 10 yards out from the cage and Rimbey tumbled over her, with the far-side official awarding a penalty stroke.

"(Rimbey) had the ball and our keeper came out and tackled her, just like she's taught to do," Keiser said. "(The official) felt (Wendt) came out on body and wasn't going for the ball. I felt she was going for the ball; the ball was on the girl's stick, but the referee said she was going for the player.

"That's a tough call to make in a state tournament game."

Keiser later confronted the official for an explanation, but it was of little consolation.

"(The official) was right there, she said that she was confident in her call or she wouldn't have made it," Keiser said. "I've got to go with that. What can I say?"

Senior Selinsgrove midfielder Ashtin Klingler and her teammates saw it much as her coach did.

"I think the hardest part is we all thought it was a good slide tackle by Amber," Klingler said. "I thought she had all ball, but I guess not."

Even Lehighton coach Shawn Hindy had his doubts about the ruling.

"I thought it was a questionable call, but there were questionable calls throughout the game. I thought the refs did a good job. Sometimes that's what it comes down to. She took our player down, and we got a stroke," Hindy said.

McConville, a senior back, was selected to take the stroke from seven yards out. She lifted a nearly indefensible shot high and right -- to the left of Wendt -- who had virtually no chance at stopping it. The ball darted in just below the crossbar, sending the Indians streaming onto the field in celebration.

"Amber is great at (stopping) strokes, but that was a great stroke. It had speed, and (McConville) was very composed," Keiser said. "When I saw how fast that stroke was ... that's a lot of pressure on a keeper. If an offense misses and the ball goes out, big deal, we play on. But if the ball goes in on a stroke it's game over, and that's just a hard way to end it.

"I would much rather it have ended on a goal in seven-on-seven."

McConville was the obvious choice to take the stroke, according to Hindy.

"We practiced that throughout the year, and she can come through under pressure," Hindy said. "I said Cori, go up there and make it,' and she did."

As the Indians stormed the field, Seals players ran out to offer solace to Wendt.

"We all so believe in Amber, and I just hope she doesn't put the blame on herself, because she had one heck of a game," Klingler said. "There's nothing you can do about a good stroke like that. She did all you could ask for."

Until the overtime, the first 60 minutes had been a defensive struggle played largely between the 25s. There were no shots on cage or penalty corners until 20 minutes in, when the Indians earned one of each. The Seals didn't pick up their first corner until the 7:55 mark of the first half. Despite finishing with a 7-6 advantage in corners, Selinsgrove was credited with only one shot on cage. The Seals couldn't connect on several crosses into the circle, and their corner opportunities weren't effective.

"We were trying to work it through, but Lehighton has an excellent defense and they were stuffing the ball. We were trying to push it through in transition, but it didn't work for us," Keiser said. "And our corners didn't work out as well as we had planned."

Speedy junior forward Ashley Youngman provided a couple of scoring opportunities in the second half, earning a corner at the 21:50 mark and breaking free on a one-on-one against Lehighton keeper Sarah Snyder with just under five minutes left in regulation. Snyder came out to challenge and Youngman dribbled to her right, but her cross into the circle wasn't collected.

Wendt finished with seven saves in cage, while Snyder was credited with one.

Despite the outcome, Keiser had nothing but praise for the Seals' effort.

"They played with everything they have. It's not like we should have done anything differently today," she said. "It was two great teams playing each other, and unfortunately we didn't come out on top."

Having just completed her final high school game, Klingler managed to strike a positive chord.

"It still feels amazing that we got this far," she said. "For the (younger girls) who came out and watched, I hope they'll want to carry on the tradition and keep coming back every year."