Pennsbury Falcons Season Starts With Double Overtime Thriller

Malvern, Pa. -- As head coach Kaitlyn Battiste’s Falcons opened the season on the turf Friday against Ches-Mont league foe Great Valley, she and her staff were looking to get a gauge of where they stand in getting ready for the Suburban One League schedule.

For the seniors on the 2011 team it more than just a game, it was an opportunity to make a statement for the upcoming season. Pennsbury fought off a late charge by the host Patriots as the tilt went the maximum distance allowed in a PIAA regular season game.

"We will depend on our seniors to help our squad settle in at the beginning of the season," Battiste said. "I am a little disappointed with a tie today, we had some chances and needed someone to step up and pull the trigger on a shot their in overtime, but it will come."

It was Great Valley senior Jenna Morris that help extend the game to the 100-minute mark on Friday as she made two outstanding saves to allow Great Valley to emerge from the fray with a hard fought 1-1 double overtime tie with the Falcons.

"Obviously I am happy with the effort by our defense," Patriot head coach Derek Brogan said.

Brogan said he is hoping to improve on the Pats 4-10-4 record from last year.

"We are very young and part of the growing process is being able to build mental toughness. We want to be able to compete every time we take the field. We responded well today to a team that beat us last season and is very solid through out their line up. As long as we play smart like we did today, the season has promise,"

Pennsbury got on the board first as with 9:03 remaining in the first half, Freshman Amy Blazejewski was found in the slot on a pass from junior Jackie Sweeney, Blazejewski was able to put the ball past Morris, posting the Falcons to a one-to-nil lead.

It would be the last goal surrendered by Morris even when Pennsbury senior captain Stephanie Fischer had her dead to rights mid way through the second half, Morris made a diving stop preserving the deadlock.

Great Valley junior midfielder Nicole Hajnik knotted the game at one each with 28:24 left in regulation, as she took the ball up the right side and blasted the ball past sophomore Sarah McDonald from 15 feet out -- scoring her first tally of the season and boosting the Patriot momentum.

"We definitely put it all out there today," Battiste said. "The outcome was in dispute all game long. The only thing we were missing was that one person to step up and take a shot. We have to find a way to will the ball into the net. Last season the difference between first and fourth come playoff seeding was one goal; we need to make sure we have that goal."

Fischer will be joined by fellow seniors Jenn Boone, Kim Brewton and co captain Lindsay Jones as the Falcons get ready for the league season opener next week versus Neshaminy.

"I wanted to win this game so bad," Great Valley senior Taylor Baugher said, as she kept score and stats for both squads. "Last year, my leg got hurt in our game against them. They are very physical."

The squads battled furiously through out the two extra stanzas, exchanging scoring chances with the best opportunity for a victory coming with less than two minutes remaining as the Patriots set up in the Falcons zone.

Blazejewski was again center stage as she took a feed from Becca Stevens, one of three freshman that will see heavy game action this season for Great Valley, and ripped a shot toward the Falcons as she had two defenders draped all over her, McDonald was in perfect position and calmly snared the ball, ending the threat and preserving the tie.

"We have set huge goals for ourselves this year," Morris said. "It’s a mentality we need to have. We have to believe we can beat anyone as we play some pretty big teams. The three of us seniors like having the spotlight on us; we have to show the younger girls what is needed and set the example for what we need to do."

Pennsbury             1            0            0            0            1

Great Valley           0            1            0           0            1

Goals

First half

9:03     PSB             Blazejewski assisted by Sweeney

Second half

28:24   GRV            Hajnik