By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – Round three!

For the third time this season the Penns Valley girls faced off against Bald Eagle Area in playoff soccer action Wednesday.

In their previous meetings, Penns Valley led with a 2-1 win and a 2-2 tie.

This one was the most important as they battled for the right to play in the District 6 championship match.

Bald Eagle got off to a fast start, leading 1-0 at the hall.

However, the Lady Rams battled back in the second, posting two goals of their own and held on for the 2-1 hard fought victory.

The game would be another budding chapter to the current season as both teams battled to the bitter end.

“When went into halftime we talked about that we were down 1-0 and I knew this team could come back,” said Penns Valley coach Sean Herrmann. “We have this season. We knew we had to work hard and work as a team like we have all season.”

Penns Valley was led by two goals from Nikki Denger, en route to leading her team to victory.

In the first half, the Lady Eagles seemed to have the momentum as they would sustain numerous drives down into the Rams’ side of the field.

But the Rams back-line and goalkeeper Avery Dinges were up for the challenge contesting 7-out-of-9 shots keep the game close.

After posting strong pressure in the Lady Rams back-third, the Eagles were able to put one across when Heather Lescovansky scored off a picture perfect pass from MacKenzie Bickel in transition at 14:36.

The score would remain that as the two teams went into the intermission.

“I think we just didn’t keep the pace we had in the first half and that hurt us a little bit,” said a bald Eagle Area coach Jared Moore. “But the girls played a great game. They had a great season. What a great squad. Penns Valley’s a good team and it’s always a tough game when we play against them.”

Trailing at intermission, Rams came out on a mission and steeped up their intensity level and tempo.

The Eagles offense tried to get something going but we’re turned back by the inspired play of the Penns Valley team.

After pushing the ball deep into the Eagles side of the field, Lady Rams knotted the game at one, sneaking in a shot from the side of the field and sneaking past Greib, tying it at one.

The momentum and tempo belonged to Penns Valley as they continued to deny the ball and keeping the Bald Eagle’s runs downfield.

With the game tied at one and the clock continually counting down the intensity and desperation to post another goal built by the second.

As the clock wound down to the 25-minute mark, there was some action around the Bald Eagle Area goal. After some anxious moments, one of the Bald Eagle players got caught for a hand ball call, forcing a penalty kick.

Denger stood up at the line to and blasted one past the goal, putting the game on ice as the defense took over and stunned the Eagles, 2-1.

The Rams will be back in action Tuesday as they battle Bishop Guilfoyle at Philipsburg-Osceola High school.

Penns Valley 2, Bald Eagle Area 1

PV 0 2 – 2

BEA  1 0 – 1

Scoring

First half

BEA – Heather Lescovansky from MacKenzie Bickel 14:36.

Second half

PV – Nikki Denger unassisted, 33:31.

PV – Nikki Denger PK, 24:13.

Shots on goal: PV 10, BEA 8.

Corners: PV 4, BEA 4.

Saves: Avery Dinges (PV) 2, Angelina Grieb.