The win moved the Indians (15-3-1) into a quarterfinal Friday against 14th seed Perkiomen Valley, a double-overtime victor over third seed Council Rock North on Wednesday.
It was the fifth goal of the season for McDonough, who earned a starting berth about midway through the season.
"I saw if off my stick, but I didn't see the ball go in," an elated McDonough said. "I only knew it was in from the reaction of my teammates."
Naturally, they mobbed her, and once again, she was lost in a sea of bodies.
A win in the quarterfinals would assure the Indians of their first trip to the PIAA state tournament since 1993.
"As a freshman, my goal was to just help the team out in any way I could. I didn't expect to be starting, but I guess my hard work paid off," McDonough said.
Wendy Neary, Unionville's first-year coach, couldn't say enough about the freshman's contributions.
"Izzy's a firecracker," Neary said. "She goes all out all the time."
Junior Annabeth Donovan remembers losing to Plymouth Whitemarsh in the first round of districts last season, and also the team's not even making the playoffs when she was a freshman.
"This is a history-making event for Unionville," she said. "We have had the talent but just didn't get the job done."
The Indians, champions of the American Division of the Ches-Mont League, took a 1-0 lead against the Pioneers when junior Brielle Hartzell scored with 11 minutes remaining in the first half.
The Pioneers (16-3-1), the Central League champions, had beaten Unionville, 3-2, during the regular season. The three goals came in the first 16 minutes of that game.
The Pioneers tied Wednesday's game, 1-1, in the second half on a goal by freshman Oliver Everts.
