For a moment, Blair Gerlach thought fate might have had different plans than to send Mars to F.N.B. Stadium on Saturday.
Miley Gratton made sure the No. 4 Mars girls soccer coach won’t ever have to wonder about what ifs.
With her overtime goal against No.1 Penn-Trafford — the lone score in a 1-0 WPIAL Class 3A semifinal playoff game — the Planets’ junior forward booked reservations for the title game, in which her team will face either No. 2 Shaler or No. 6 Plum. She got in front of a goalkeeper’s clearance and broke away, while her father, Bryan Gratton, watched her battle past a pair of Warriors (14-3-3) defenders and finish it off.
“As the game trudges on and on, and it’s scoreless, you’re wondering, ‘Is it gonna be a mistake by one team that gets punished? Is it going to be some great offense that wins it?'” Gerlach said. “I feel like we created some really good chances, throughout the game, and sometimes you start to feel like, ‘Maybe this just isn’t our night.'”
For much of the match, getting through the opponents’ defense had been the problem. Gratton said Mars’ midfield did a good job controlling play in the second half and getting the ball to the forwards, but Penn-Trafford’s aggressive scheme made it difficult to turn those chances into goals.
The Warriors had a few good chances of their own, but were kept from denting the scoreboard. Gratton’s teammates went crazy celebrating when she finally broke the tie.
“This is how Miley plays,” the elder Gratton said. “This is what she does. She battles and she works hard. This whole team does. They’ve been working hard all year and they deserve it.”
Gerlach, meanwhile, was more relieved. He felt like he watched a 4-2 game just because of how many opportunities both sides generated.
