Defending champ Freedom rallies past Springdale in Class A semifinals
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Wednesday, November 1, 2023 | 12:45 AM
Springdale’s Briana Ross defends on Freedom’s Morgan Keller during a WPIAL Class A semifinal Tuesday at North Allegheny.
Springdale’s Ariana Feizi and Brooke Taliani celebrate with Haile Marchlewski after Marchlewski’s goal against Freedom during a WPIAL Class A semifinal Tuesday at North Allegheny.
Springdale’s Briana Ross is taken out by Freedom keeper Trinity Vojtko, who was yellow carded on the play resulting in a penalty kick, during a WPIAL Class A semifinal Tuesday at North Allegheny.
Springdale’s Makayla Haus, Charlie McClafferty and Brooke Taliani celebrate with Molly Hurley after Hurley scored on a penalty kick against Freedom during a WPIAL Class A semifinal Tuesday at North Allegheny.
Springdale’s Hailey Marchlewski scores past Freedom keeper Trinity Vojtko during a WPIAL Class A semifinal Tuesday at North Allegheny.
Springdale’s Ariana Feizi takes the ball from Freedom’s Peyton Ward during a WPIAL Class A semifinal Tuesday at North Allegheny.
Senior Shaye Bailey scored her 46th goal of the season with 10 minutes, 20 seconds left, and the score was the difference as No. 2 Freedom rallied past No. 6 Springdale, 3-2, in a WPIAL Class A semifinal Tuesday evening at North Allegheny.
Freedom will attempt to defend its WPIAL championship at 6 p.m. Friday as the Bulldogs (17-3) take on top-seeded Riverview (19-2) at Highmark Stadium.
Springdale (13-4), which made it to at least the semifinals for the third year in a row, will take on South Allegheny (13-8) Thursday in a third-place consolation match with a trip to the PIAA tournament on the line.
Freedom finished the game with an 8-6 shots-on-goal advantage. Seven of the eight came in the second half.
Bailey finished with two goals to lead the Bulldogs, who defeated Springdale for the third time in as many WPIAL tournaments.
Springdale took a 2-0 lead into halftime on goals from junior Molly Hurley and sophomore Hailey Marchlewski.
Junior Briana Ross moved in on a breakaway with 19 minutes left in the half. Freedom sophomore keeper Trinity Vojtko came out to defend, but she was whistled for a foul on Ross in the box, and the Dynamos were awarded a penalty kick.
Vojtko received a yellow card, and freshman backup Rylie Vojtko came in to defend the penalty kick from Hurley.
Hurley’s attempt was successful, and her 15th of the season gave Springdale the lead.
Marchlewski scored from close range with 10:25 left until the break. It was her 11th of the season.
Freedom responded after halftime. Sophomore Mackenzie Mohrbacher helped cut the Springdale lead to 2-1 on a header past Dynamos junior keeper Baileigh Haas off a corner kick.
Bailey then tied the game with 29:20 left in regulation.
Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.
Tags: Freedom, Springdale
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