Standards led to Agnes Irwin’s death in PAISAA semifinal loss – Delco Times

For most of Thursday’s live-ball play, Agnes Irwin played Springside Chestnut Hill fairly evenly. But set pieces, especially in knockout football, can make all the difference.

The SCHA scored three times in dead-ball situations to earn a 3-0 victory in the PAISAA women’s soccer semifinals Thursday afternoon.

The win moves the Inter-Ac champions into the finals, where they will take on Westtown School, which beat Episcopal Academy in the other semi-final. The final is Tuesday. EA and Agnes Irvine will end their season on Friday in a rivalry day clash with second place in the league on the line.

Agnes Irwin had a difficult opener on Thursday, with SCHA midfielder Kali Smith firing a free kick home in the eighth minute and wayward Brynn Kozloff heading in an own goal.

The Owls, who won the SCHA in September before the Blue Devils beat them in Radnor, stabilized the game and had a couple of chances to get revenge. But SCHA doubled the lead with a six-second lead on the first-half clock. Smith quickly fired a free-kick from the edge of the area and although goalkeeper Lindsay Reidenbach made a fine save from Riley Backley at the first attempt, the midfielder was all alone to save the ball to make it 2-0.

SCHA added a third goal in the first 90 seconds of the second half, Smith superbly curling a corner towards the back post and crashing into defender Ella Thomson. It came immediately after goalkeeper Tatum Quinones made a superb save from Alex de Bolak’s breakaway.

Reidenbach made three saves in the first half. Quinones added two in the second.

SCHA goalkeeper Gracin Li-Torchiana made five saves, including a great shot on Colby Costa’s attempt to force the shutout in the 70th minute. Gabrielle Buongiorno’s free-kick in the 27th minute resulted in a short dive and forced Li-Torciana off course, but she managed to save the shot.

Boys Football

Mickey McGonagle’s two goals gave Episcopal Academy a 2-1 victory over Westtown in the PAISAA semifinals.

EA advances to next week’s final against the winner of Friday’s match between Phelps and Kiski schools.

Frank Shanahan scored the first goal. Garrett Rhodes assisted in the second. EA is seeded sixth in the tournament, having upset Penn Charter in the first round and playing a Westtown team that knocked off No. 2 Haverford High.

Tennis for girls

Carter Yearley picked up the win at third singles as Episcopal Academy beat Springside Chestnut Hill 7-0 to advance to the PAISAA girls tennis final.

EA won all seven matches in a row. Avery Morris won at first singles, 6-1, 6-2. Gwen Morris lost one game at second doubles, as did Elsa Holleran and Kayla Krasnik at second doubles.