Lady Leps bow out of playoffs with 6-1 loss
McMURRAY — The Belle Vernon girls soccer team saw its season some to an end Monday night at the hands of the Ambridge Bridgers, 6-1, in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs under stormy conditions.
Belle Vernon coach Tom Cameron took ownership of the loss.
“I am a little disappointed in our defense, but it is my fault,” he said. “I have to do a better job because when you lose to a team 6-1 that you are dead even with, I have to shoulder the responsibility and have to get better for next year.”
The biggest difference in the match was the team speed of the Ambridge forwards.
“We didn’t play (Mon) Valley soccer tonight,” said Cameron. “We didn’t come out and play our game and all we tried to do was press, press, press.
“We don’t have the speed.”
Belle Vernon (12-5-1) opened the scoring when Lexie Demko placed the ball just under the gloves of Ambridge goalkeeper Brooke Lively at the 26:47 mark of the first half.
“I’m sorry for my girls, especially for Lexi Demko, who is going to be a heck of a college player,” Cameron said of Demko. “The kid came out crying and I told her to not let anyone see her cry because she gave her all.
“We were playing our type of game (when Demko scored), but then I put her back and it is my fault.”
Ambridge (13-4-2) tied the score with 16:03 to go in the half when Gretchen Oslick beat Belle Vernon keeper Erin Sassak to the deep right corner.
The Bridgers came within inches of taking the lead late in the half, but Kayt McKissic’s shot from the right side passed a diving Sassak, hit the left post and bounced out into the field.
The match was tied at 1-1 at the half, but Ambridge definitely had the momentum heading into the second half.
The Bridgers took a 2-1 lead with 27:29 to play when Abbey Sutton scored, and the senior added a second goal with 23:48 to play to make the score 3-1.
The match snowballed from there.
McKissic attuned for her earlier near-miss in the first half when she scored with 16:03 to play. Oslick added her second tally with 14:16 to play and Kylee Bobak closed the scoring with 5:59 to go.
Belle Vernon returns 12-of-17 letter winners next season.
“I am proud of the girls,” he said. “We will be a young team again next year and then in a couple of girls will come up, but we have to play for (next year).”