Trojans edge Cougars in double overtime
By Shawn annarelli
TTM News Wire Services
The WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer championship game needed a hero, and North Catholic sophomore Jayden Sharpless stepped up in double overtime on an indirect free kick.
Her first attempt sailed wide, but she was granted a second chance because of a pre-kick violation against Yough for encroachment. Cougars defender Hadley Sleith also was dealt a yellow card on the play.
North Catholic forward Alexis Wateska tapped the second indirect free kick a foot back to Sharpless who drilled a 25-yard shot into the top right corner of the net as the Trojans won their first WPIAL Class AA title 1-0 over the Cougars on Saturday at Highmark Stadium.
The Trojanettes have been led offensively this season by Sharpless, who has 18 goals one year after tallying 64 to lead Freedom to the WPIAL Class A title. She was initially ruled ineligible by WPIAL, but gained eligibility on an appeal by a 6-5 panel vote in September.
“I wasn’t expecting (a second indirect kick), so it was amazing,” Sharpless said. “Winning with North Catholic feels unreal. It’s like a family here. We deserved it. We just made history.”
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