A 3-0 win over visiting Central on Nov. 20 started Frankford, which placed fourth in the Division A standings, on the road back to the championship match.
Michele Dimitri scored twice, and her sister, Missy, added a single goal, while goalkeeper Angelique Crego shook off the effects of an Achilles' tendon injury to record the shutout for the Pioneers.
But Frankford's biggest hurdle, a test that few believed the Pioneers could pass, was a semifinal date with regular-season champion Northeast High on Wednesday at Washington.
The two teams battled to a scoreless tie until the final minutes, when Frankford's Linda O'Neill scored off a penalty corner by Michele Dimitri with 1:30 remaining in regulation. Again, Crego stood tall in the cage for Frankford, inspiring her teammates to rally for the win.
"I'm so proud of the kids," Kline said.
"I told them to leave it all out there on the field. I didn't want them to leave saying, 'I could've, should've or would've.'
"The kids just had a great day. They finally looked and played like a team."
Lincoln got two goals by Rachel Walters and another goal by Jennifer Taggart to eliminate visiting Girls High, 3-1, in the quarterfinals on Nov. 20.
But the Railsplitters, the third-place team from Division A, didn't do much of anything in the first half of Wednesday's semifinal matchup with Washington at Northeast.
Washington, which placed second in Division A and won both regular-season meetings with Lincoln, controlled the play in the early going.
The Eagles finally grabbed the lead with 30 seconds remaining in the first half when Angel Prinos lifted a penalty stroke high into the left corner of the cage, over Lincoln goalie Kelly Flanagan.
With Washington goalie Jean Cantz kicking out shots and clearing dangerous passes en route to a seven-save day, the Eagles' lead appeared safe.
However, a halftime pep talk by Lincoln coach Barbara Cook changed the course of the game.
"I told the girls that if they wanted to win, they would have to start playing like they wanted to win," Cook said.
"It was in an upbeat tone. But I think they got the message."
Lincoln pulled even 10 minutes into the second half when Cantz made the initial save on a long shot by Taggart but couldn't control the rebound, which Serena Mungiole promptly poked past the fallen goalie.
That goal, coupled with Cook's words, seemed to spur the Railsplitters even more as Lincoln continued to apply pressure in the Washington end.
Walters provided the game-winner, just 3:19 after Mungiole's goal, when she split two defenders and whipped a shot into the left-hand corner of the cage.
"Ms. Cook really lifted my spirits at halftime," Walters said. "And then we came out determined to win in the second half."
Washington coach Dottie Walton could sense the Railsplitters' renewed confidence after intermission.
"Lincoln got the momentum and played beautifully," Walton said.
"They clearly outhustled us and really outplayed us in the second half," the coach added. "I really felt that Lincoln deserved to win."
Lincoln finished off the stunning victory with Flanagan's turning away shot after shot in the closing moments.
"Our defense was awesome," said Flanagan, who recorded five saves. "They didn't let many shots get through, but I was determined to stop everything that came my way."
As for today's rematch, Kline is certain Lincoln will carry a psychological edge into the game.
"Most of their kids played (in the championship) last year," Kline said. ''I'm sure they're going to remember" the outcome.
Frankford and Lincoln split their two regular-season games this year, giving Cook reason to respect the Pioneers' chances in the title game.
"I'm looking forward to playing Frankford again," Cook said.
"To the kids, they're looking at it as a matter of redeeming themselves," Cook said. "But I know we'll have to play with the same intensity we showed in the second half against Washington. There's no way we're going to take Frankford lightly."
