Lady Mounts continue run

PENNSBURG — Back at the beginning of the season, if one said the Ephrata girls soccer team would make a deep run in the state tournament, the response would’ve been, “Well, duh!”

But in the late stages of the regular season, the response might’ve been, “What?”

A season-ending injury to forward Annie Slovak sent the Mountaineers into a mini spiral as the L-L Section Two title slipped away, followed by a first-round exit in the league tournament.

Gathering themselves, the Mounts (213-1) put together a run to the semifinals of the PIAA Class 4A championships, a milestone attained Saturday morning at Upper Perkiomen High School with a 1-0 victory over Penncrest.

It’s the first semifinal for the program since spring 2001, when the Mounts lost to eventual champion Council Rock.

Maddie Root scored her seventh goal of the postseason, a sweet rebound finish, in the 61st minute and the defense — fronting a stellar effort by keeper Jocelyn Umana — sent the Mountaineers into Tuesday’s penultimate state game.

They will face Pennridge, the third-place team out of District One, a 4-3 winner in PKs over District 11 champion Parkland. Tuesday’s site and time are to be determined.

With just under 20 minutes to play Saturday, Ephrata’s Rosa Saenz put a 22-yard free kick from the left wing on goal.

The Mounts’ Carly Holochuck got a touch on it at the near post, initially denied by Lions keeper Bryn McLaughlin.

The rebound came to Root on the doorstep, and the Mounts had the lead.

“I just put a foot on it,” said Root. “Any body part you can put on it is good.”

Saturday’s task promised to be daunting — at least in the first half — as Ephrata played into the teeth of a 15 mph-plus wind.

The Mounts bent but never broke, allowing the Lions (11-8-4) three corners and four shots on goal.

“I was quite nervous,” said Umana. “They were taking those long shots, coming in high.

“I just made sure ... the wind didn’t do something I wasn’t expecting.”

It wasn’t the wind, but her own defender who caused her some concern, with just under eight minutes to halftime.

Off a corner kick by Penncrest’s Katie Sparling, the clearing attempt by Claire Schwartz volleyed backwards toward the net and a potential own goal.

“When it hit off her foot I was like, ‘Oh, where is it?’ ” Umana said. “Luckily, it was kind of right there.”

And Umana was right there in the 37th minute when Sparling’s long shot sailed on goal, slapped high before she cradled it.

“Jocelyn’s been just rock solid,” Ephrata coach Wes Deininger said. “She seems prepared for anything.”

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