ORWIGSBURG — Pine Grove coach Jason Brown was looking for more offense this season.
He certainly has found it from freshmen Rachel Edge and Mariah Lesh. The two were the difference makers Wednesday in one of the biggest wins in the history of the Cardinals’ program.
Edge and Lesh each had a goal, with Edge putting in the game-winner during the 84th minute, to give Pine Grove a thrilling, 2-1, overtime victory over Blue Mountain in a Schuylkill League Division I contest at the Eagles’ Nest.
Edge’s game-winner started on a Blue Mountain throw-in. The ball eventually found its way to the Cardinals’ Emily Weaver, who sent in a through-ball to Edge.
Edge got behind the Eagles’ defense, took a few dribbles toward Blue Mountain’s goal and beat keeper Carleigh Bogotuik with a shot that ended up in the right corner of the net.
“I am completely relieved,” Edge said. “That was a hard game and they played really well. I think we just all worked as a team. It is great.”
For the Cardinals (7-1, 4-0 D-I), it certainly was.
Pine Grove has slowly become a division contender the past few years under Brown, but have yet to beat the
two programs that have ruled the division the past couple of years: Blue Mountain and Pottsville.
Wednesday’s victory was the first time the Cardinals have beaten the Eagles since Blue Mountain joined the league in 2010. Pine Grove is currently the lone team with a perfect Division I record and the win moved the Cardinals into a first-place tie with the Eagles (4-4, 4-1 D-I) on points with 8.
“I think it is the best win we could possibility have,” Edge said. “That is one of the hardest games I think I ever played in. It is great.”
Edge has certainly made an impact for Pine Grove. She now has 18 goals on the season, scoring four twice — Sept. 4 at Schuylkill Valley and Sept. 11 against Lehighton — as well as a hat trick Sept. 3 at Jim Thorpe.
Lesh got the Cardinals headed in the right direction Wednesday, scoring in the 2nd minute when she got a run at the Eagles’ goal. Bogotuik came out to stop her and Lesh popped past it past Bogotuik and into the net.
The goal was Lesh’s seventh of the season.
“We found it,” Brown said of the scoring this season. “I am running two freshman forwards and they work very well together. They are a dynamitic duo, that is for sure.”
Pine Grove maintained that 1-0 lead until Blue Mountain’s Emily Steinhilber tied it in the 68th minute. She took a pass from Abigail Fanelli to the right of Pine Grove keeper Jen Kaufman, advanced a few dribbles and scored from about 10 yards away on a shot that went into the net between Kaufman and the post.
“They did what they had to do,” Blue Mountain coach Mike Burcik said. “I don’t think we were quite ready. They came out and surprised us with one and from there you are trying to play catch-up.
“I thought after we put the one away we were in a better position and I thought we were getting some momentum at times. When it comes down to it, that one goal can make the game. They got what they needed. They played well.”
Edge and Lesh got the goals, but it was a team effort for the Cardinals.
Wednesday was the fifth time this season Pine Grove has allowed one goal or less in a game. Kaufman had seven saves, including a diving one in each half to keep Blue Mountain scoreless.
Brown was also pleased with how his team responded after Blue Mountain scored late in the second half.
“I am little taken back right now,” Brown said. “I said to them it is easy when you lead for 90 percent of the game and then they came back and tie it for us to be down. We are down emotionally and they are up emotionally. It is easy to just throw in the towel then. For them to push it is a testament to what type of team we have this year. These girls live and breathe soccer.”
Added Edge: “We made sure that we were focused, we made sure that we possessed as a team and made sure that we loved each other. Those were our three goals coming into this game.”
Game Summary
PG (7-1, 4-0) 1 0 1 — 2 BM (4-4, 4-1) 0 1 0 — 1
PG —Mar. Lesh, 1:01
BM —E. Steinhilber (Fanelli), 67:57
PG —Edge (Weaver), 83:07
Shots on goal: Pine Grove 7, Blue Mountain 8. Corner kicks: Pine Grove 4, Blue Mountain 4. Saves: Pine Grove (Kaufman) 7, Blue Mountain (Bogotuik) 5.
JV Score: Blue Mountain 3-0