Published: November 10, 2009 11:47 pm      

Dynamos end Crushers’ year

MURRYSVILLE — Bishop McCort made an early exit from the PIAA Class AA girls soccer playoffs, losing 3-0 to Springdale on Tuesday in a first-round matchup.

The Dynamos’ senior class kept Springdale’s season going after goals by strikers Brittany Loveland and Cayley Perrett and midfielder Alexa Sarsfield.

Bishop McCort senior goaltender Maranda McIntosh’s play was the biggest positive of the night, as she made more than a dozen saves in the first half to keep the score 1-0 after Loveland’s early goal.

The Dynamos’ offensive attack and crowding of the net, though, turned out to be too much.

“We thought we were (prepared Tuesday night),” Bishop McCort coach Joe Petak said.

“We were just outclassed (Tuesday night). We made some key mistakes, and Springdale played well.”

Petak said he credited McIntosh with keeping the Crushers in the game.

“(Our team) has one of the best goaltenders the area. She kept us in the game,” he said.

The Crushers tried to keep Loveland in check after the game-winning goal, with junior forward Samantha Shultz giving a vicious hit with 15 seconds in the first half and Loveland colliding with sophomore midfielder Leah Bridges in the second half, the second one causing both to stand on the sidelines for much of the second half.

Even though Bishop McCort kept Loveland scoreless the rest of the game, Sarsfield and Perrett each scored in the first 15 minutes of the second half to keep the Dynamos in control of the game.

The Crushers had trouble controlling the ball offensively in the first half, not providing much of a test for Springdale’s senior goaltender Sabrina Adams.

Shultz said possession is something the Crushers have to work on for next year.

“(Springdale) kept a lot of possession and control of the ball, and sprinted to everything,” Shultz said.

Senior forward Emily Basille said the Crushers played well, but agreed Bishop McCort players have a lot to work on. She hopes to help the team before she leaves for college.

“We played pretty good, but we have to work on possession like no other for next year,” Basille said.

Even though the Crushers exit the PIAA playoffs in the first round, Petak said he is optimistic about next season.

“We have a young team,” Petak said. “We will be back strong – right here (in the playoffs).”

The Crushers ended the season 16-2-2.