Trying to pump up her team before the Greenwood game, Polley explained she remembered beating Greenwood en route to the 1993 state title. She figured that was a good omen. At that point one of her current players piped up and said, "Coach, I wasn't even born then."
According to Polley the comment drew a few laughs.
Selinsgrove, the District 4 champ, is 21-1-1 with an impressive win over defending state champion Wyoming Seminary. Offensively, the Seals are led by Haley Kerstetter, who had a hat trick in her team's opening-round win over Susquenita, 3-2.
Villa's Caroline Troncelliti had a hat trick in the win over Greenwood and has now scored 103 goals in her career.
"Selinsgsrove's an excellent team," Polley said.
Lessons learned. Although District 12 champion Archbishop Carroll fell to District 3 champ Hempfield, 3-1, in the PIAA Class AAA quarterfinals to end its season, the Patriots learned that working out on artificial surfaces proved invaluable.
Having only a grass field of their own, the Patriots solved the turf problem by renting time on an artificial surface in Limerick, about a 40-minute ride from the school.
"It made a huge difference in our game," said Suzie Gennaro, who coached the Patriots to an 18-3 record. "The game is so much faster on turf."
Asked if Carroll was planning to install an artificial surface field, Gennaro replied: "I'm praying for it. That's the whole game today. The school has been so supportive of us, and we appreciate it."
Exceptional run. Shipley senior captains Alayna Harris, Ilana Wolfson, and Avery Safford agree that it's been a fun time over the past three seasons. During that stretch, the Gators were undefeated in the Friends League with a 36-0 mark. They were 46-2-1 overall.
The 2011 season ended with a 4-1 loss to Inter-Academic League champion Episcopal Academy in the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Tournament.
"We bonded very well," Wolfson, a three-year starter, said of the team's success. "We were close, like family. There was no drama."
She called the loss to Episcopal a big disappointment.
"I certainly did not think we could go unbeaten [in the league], but everyone had a goal and worked for it," added Wolfson.
Safford scored the 50th goal of her career in the second half of the Gators' 5-1 win over Mercersburg in the independent schools tourney. The Richmond-bound Safford had 18 goals this season.
Contact staff writer Don Beideman at 267-815-0733 or dbeideman@phillynews.com.
