Freeport scores in overtime to top Burrell in section clash

By: Michael Love
Monday, September 16, 2024 | 10:13 PM

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Eighty minutes weren’t enough to decide Monday’s WPIAL Section 2-2A girls soccer clash between rivals Freeport and Burrell at Buccaneer Stadium.

Freeport sophomore Cam Woods scored the winner with 8 minutes, 14 seconds left in the first overtime to end a game rife with dazzling scoring chances and equally dazzling defensive plays.

The win lifted Freeport to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the section, whereas Burrell fell to 4-2-1, 2-2 in section play.

The teams will play again Oct. 7 at Freeport.

“We had to come together, and we couldn’t give up on each other if we were going to get this win,” Woods said. “We kept pushing. That was probably our hardest game of the season the way we were battling back and forth. It was so even.”

The winner came when Burrell keeper Dana Barczykowski scooped up a loose ball and attempted a clear. But the kick was low to the ground, and the ball came right to Woods, who settled the ball and fired off a shot.

Because Barczykowski was away from the goal on the clear, the goal was open and Woods’ shot was uncontested as it found the back of the net.

“I wanted to be there just in case, and I was surprised it came right to me,” Woods said. “The whole game, her kick (clear) was huge. From there, I just knew I was going to score. I just took my time and placed it in the goal.”

Woods’ winner was Freeport’s lone shot on goal of overtime. Burrell finished with an 11-8 advantage in shots on goal.

“I couldn’t believe the game ended like that,” Freeport coach Steve Kukic said. “It was just a hard-fought game between two really talented teams. It definitely could’ve gone either way. There were times where I thought we were in trouble, but we stuck with it. We just kept battling.

“It doesn’t stop here with this win. The schedule is hard, and we have to keep going.”

Freeport hosts Knoch in section play Wednesday, and Burrell visits section foe Shady Side Academy.

After a busy first half at both ends of the field, Burrell came out strong offensively to start the second half and tallied a corner kick and a pair of other scoring chances that went for naught.

Makiah Buchak, who came in with a team-high five goals for the Bucs, came down the left wing in the eighth minute and delivered a cross to McKenna Miller, who took a shot in the box. But Freeport keeper Alyssa Alcorn was there to make the save.

Freeport countered with three shots, two from sophomore Peyton Los, as the teams picked up the intensity with the second-half clock ticking under 30 minutes.

Burrell’s Maggie Nesko looped a shot on the Freeport goal in the 19th minute of the half, but Alcorn again made the stop.

In a wild sequence with 15 minutes, 45 seconds left in the second, Miller delivered a cross to Buchak in the box. Buchak took a pair of shots at point-blank range and was stoned both times by Alcorn.

Buchak corralled the ball again and took a third shot that rang off the crossbar and out of play.

Freeport freshman Tess Hanek rifled an attempt from 22 yards with 11 minutes left in regulation that sailed high of the Burrell net.

Woods then came down the right wing and fired off a laser that also sailed high of the Bucs goal.

Freeport got the first strong chance of the game in the third minute as Woods set up for a corner kick. Her boot into the box was on point, but her Yellowjackets teammates were not able to convert a shot against Barczykowski.

The Bucs countered, and Nesko got off a clean shot from about 25 yards in the 10th minute that Alcorn kicked out of danger.

A Miller cross 30 seconds later scooted just out of the reach of Leah Waldsmith, who was closing in on the Freeport goal.

The Yellowjackets countered immediately, and Woods unleashed an uncontested shot that Barczykowski hauled in for the save.

Woods had another dangerous attempt a couple of minutes later that sailed high and wide left of the Burrell goal.

Buchak set up for a strong shot in the box in the 22nd minute , but Alcorn made a diving save to keep the game scoreless.

Buchak took a crossing pass in the box from Miller about a minute later, but Alcorn again denied Buchak to keep the Bucs off the board.

Woods and Ella McConville each delivered a shot on goal for Freeport 30 seconds apart with three minutes on the first-half clock.

Burrell’s Gianna Sever capped an eventful first half with a pair of shots on goal.

“It was one play in one game, and it doesn’t define a season,” Burrell coach Frank Nesko said about the goal that decided the contest.

“We played them two times last year and had almost identical outcomes to this one, and we still went pretty far in the playoffs. We won’t let this one game get us down. We will get to see Freeport again in a couple of weeks. We also have to refocus and get ready for Shady Side on Wednesday. I have full confidence in our group that we’re on the right path.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Burrell, Freeport