Doug Gulasy | Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, TRIB-LIVE
Fox Chapel battled mid-80s temperatures and a pair of stingy Plum goalkeepers for nearly 100 minutes, but the Foxes found enough energy to avoid a draining draw.
Sarah Sinnott scored with 2 minutes, 48 seconds remaining in double overtime, giving Fox Chapel a 2-1 win Monday over visiting Plum in a battle for first place in Section 3-AAAA.
“It’s good for us as a team in general, just for the section because Plum’s probably the hardest team in our section,” said Sinnott, who had a goal and an assist. “To get this win and stay undefeated in the section really sets us on the right foot.”
Plum and Fox Chapel shared the section title last season, the first after WPIAL realignment put them together, and the Foxes and Mustangs came into Monday’s game unbeaten in section play this season.
It became a physical battle of attrition, with neither team scoring until late in the second half and Sinnott getting the winner with under three minutes remaining until a deadlock.
“The heat definitely played a factor for both teams,” Fox Chapel coach Peter Torres said. “Both of us were adjusting to the heat. We were able to rotate some players in and out and get some opportunities for girls to play and keep them fresh, but when it’s 85 or 90 degrees, it’s exhausting to play in.”
Fox Chapel (7-3, 5-0) dominated possession for much of Monday’s action, peppering Plum goalkeepers Zoe Nonnenberg (first half) and Alyson Bryner with shots. But both proved up to the occasion, making more than a dozen saves combined, including several of the diving variety on pinpoint opportunities.
“I’m so proud of them to be able to shine,” Plum coach Caitlin Schuchert said. “Fox Chapel has two good keepers, but this is the first year we’ve had two keepers that are a one-two punch.”
Fox Chapel also struck the crossbar on at least two occasions to keep the game scoreless deep into the second half.
“The Plum goalkeepers did a great job — they really denied us any great opportunities,” Torres said. “But we still have to do a better job. We have to make the goalkeepers work even harder. It’s one thing to hit it close to them where they can make a save, but you have to make them work really, really hard. … We need to make the most of our opportunities when we get them (because) when you get to the playoffs, you don’t have that many opportunities.”
Maura Curry finally broke the scoreless tie with just under six minutes remaining in the second half, converting a pass from Sinnott.
Plum (6-2, 4-1) broke through with 41 seconds left in regulation when Jordyn Huemme won a scramble for a loose ball in the box and put the ball into the open net.
“That’s the roller coaster of the game, I guess,” Schuchert said. “They probably were confident they had the game over, and the girls worked really hard. That’s them. That’s what they do. Of course they play up for Fox Chapel because this is such a big game for us, but that’s how they’re going to finish any game. They never think they’re out of it.”
After neither team scored in overtime, Sinnott won it in the waning minutes, gathering in a long pass from Greta Lazzara and beating Bryner. The shot deflected off Bryner and the crossbar and landed just over the goal line, leaving some uncertainty until the referee ruled the game over.
“I was a little unsure, but they called it in, and I think it went in,” Sinnott said.