WILLIAMSTOWN — Moravian Academy took the opening kickoff and had a shot on goal 30 seconds into the game.
It was a sign of what was to come during Thursday’s District 11 Class A girls’ soccer quarterfinal.
Annelise DePaulo scored twice, while Makenzie O’Brien had two assists to lead No. 6 Moravian Academy to dominating 5-1 victory over No. 3 Williams Valley at Stauffenberg Field at Viking Stadium.
Thursday was the first career home playoff game for the Vikings (13-5-1), who were looking for their first district postseason victory since a 2-1 double overtime win over Tri-Valley in the 2012 quarterfinals.
It wasn’t to be.
DePaulo opened the scoring for the Lions (10-7) with a goal in the 5th minute. Williams Valley’s Cassandra Schorr tied it in the 20th.
Despite Schorr’s goal being the only shot on goal for the Vikings’ in the first half, the game remained tied until Izzy Khan scored in the 39th for Moravian Academy.
The Lions then put the game away early in the second half, starting with a long-distance goal from Rachel Burcaw in the 43rd minute. DePaulo (51st) and Sarah Burcaw (55th) followed to send Moravian Academy to the semifinal round Monday against No. 2 Schuylkill Haven, which beat seventh-ranked Tri-Valley, at a site and time to be determined.
“They were definitely a step quicker than us,” Williams Valley coach Gary Fetterhoff said. “They did a lot of little things better than we did, just running through, overlapping, stuff like that.”
The Lions held a 14-1 advantage in shots on goal in the first half and a 22-2 advantage in the game as Williams Valley was unable to generate much of a sustained offensive attack.
It made for a busy afternoon for Williams Valley keeper Alyssa Schadle, who played well and had 17 saves.
“They were so fast front to back,” Fetterhoff said. “I tried to tell the girls to try and stay tighter in the middle and let them run the sides and make them come in on you. ... They were just so fast. (DePaulo), I didn’t have anybody that fast on my team.”
Still, the Vikings hung close for most of the first half.
DePaulo’s first goal came off a free kick sent in by O’Brien from 35 yards away. The ball went to DePaulo at the far post and she put it in.
Schorr scored from about 25 yards out on a low shot that rolled through the middle of the Lions defense and to the far post. Moravian Academy keeper Maddie Weston reached down for the ball but couldn’t get it and the game was tied.
The Vikings had another excellent opportunity during the 38th minute on a 25-yard direct kick by Megan Schadle. However, Schadle’s shot deflected off the crossbar and across the end line.
The loss ended what was the most successful season in the eight-year history of the Viking program. The number of wins set a program record as Williams Valley reached the Schuylkill League playoffs for the first time.
Game Summary
District 11 Girls’ Soccer Class A Quarterfinal
Moravian Acad. (10-7) 2 3 — 5 Wms. Valley (13-5-1) 1 0 — 1
MA —DePaulo (O’Brien), 4:03
WV —Schorr, 19:27
MA —Khan (O’Brien), 38:52
MA —R. Burcaw, 42:07
MA —DePaulo, 50:02
MA —S. Burcaw (Shunk), 54:11
Shots on goal: Moravian Academy 22, Williams Valley 2. Corner kicks: Moravian Academy 2, Williams Valley 2. Saves: Moravian Academy (Weston) 1, Williams Valley (A. Schadle) 17.