Penns Valley girls lose heartbreaker to Somerset in 2OT

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: October 30, 2018

They went out battling.

It was a nail biting night for the Penns Valley girls soccer team as they fell in a heartbreaking 2-1 double overtime loss to Somerset in yesterday’s District 6 2A semifinal.

Somerset’s Rylee Pucci got her team on the board first scoring an unassisted goal at 38:11.

We knew going in things were always going to be against us with a 2.5 hr bus ride and playing a good Somerset team on their own turf. Our girls responded well to the challenge and the first half was largely a back and forth contest. Somerset got on the board late in the first half off a great shot from distance to the top corner,”

said Penns Valley coach Andrew Beverly. “Kylie Auman got a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out of the net. We spoke at halftime about a few tactical adjustments and trying to settle things down when in possession. “

But with time running out, the Rams went to leading scorer Hannah Montminy. She did not disappoint as she blasted a tying goal at 79:58 to send the game into overtime.

“The girls responded well and we were on the front foot for a strong 15 minute spell. Off a Hannah Denger corner kick, Morgan Smith timed a great run and got onto the end of the cross. The ball appeared to cross the line and our team celebrated but the officials weren’t in the best position and did not confirm the goal,” said Beverly. “To have scored a great goal only to have it not count set us back a bit and we lost some momentum. The game evened out again and we had to make a push in the final few minutes. Then, as has been the case so often this season, up popped Hannah Montminy. While pushing for an equalizer in the dying seconds, Somerset committed a foul on the right edge of the box. Montminy gathered the ball as the last 10 seconds started counting down. She rushed her free kick and curled it past an outstretched keeper and into the far top corner with 2 seconds left in the game. I don’t know how under all of that pressure, with our season about to end, how Hannah could pull off a perfect free kick but she did.

However Somerset finished things off at the 106:36 minute of double overtime when Pucci scores once again.

The first part of overtime was just a whirlwind of emotion and no team could get a foothold. We started to settle into the game again and create a few chances but couldn’t finish. With just over three minutes left in the second overtime, Somerset whipped in a corner and a perfectly timed run and volley ended the game,” said Beverly. “Unfortunately, I got some of the tactics wrong in overtime and Somerset capitalized on my mistake. It’s always tough when a season ends but the girls put forth another tremendous performance despite all of the challenges they were up against last night.”

Penns Valley led in shots on goal 18-12.

Both teams had four corner opportunities.

Penns Valley goalie Kylie Auman has five saves while Somerset got 11 from Courtney Vought.

“The first part of overtime was just a whirlwind of emotion and no team could get a foothold. We started to settle into the game again and create a few chances but couldn’t finish. With just over three minutes left in the second overtime, “ said Beverly. “Somerset whipped in a corner and a perfectly timed run and volley ended the game. Unfortunately, I got some of the tactics wrong in overtime and Somerset capitalized on my mistake. It’s always tough when a season ends but the girls put forth another tremendous performance despite all of the challenges they were up against last night. When we were looking at the upcoming season back in August, we knew this group had the potential for a great season but nothing was definite. But this team came together, led by a great group of seniors, and they put together one of the best seasons for Penns Valley in the last decade. They went 12-1 and won the Mountain League. They won a district playoff game for the first time in over 5 years. And they were just a missed call and a few unlucky bounces away from a district final appearance. While it stinks for this season to be over, I can’t help but smile thinking about how proud I am of this group and what they’ve accomplished.”

Penns Valley’s final record for the season is 13-6.