Trasatti, bold Cougars hold off Haverford

DOWNINGTON >> Aliza Trasatti had just helped Downingtown East take its second lead of the first 23 minutes of Tuesday’s District 1 Class 4A playback semifinal. So once play restarted, she figured, why not press her luck? With the ball and some space 40 yards from goal, what’s the worst that could come of it?

“It was kind of just an impulsive shot,” the senior midfielder said. “I had space and I just shot it.”

Trasatti didn’t know that Ella Marrollo would be waiting on the doorstep after her shot pinged off the crossbar and led to a scrum But by the time Marrollo persuaded the ball over the goal line past a scrambling Alison Durfee, the Cougars had all the offense they’d need for a 3-2 win over Haverford, sending the Cougars to states and ending the Fords’ season.

Alyssa Hayes did Trasatti one better by scoring on a dipping drive from distance for the Fords (11-9-2) in the 13th minute, and Annalena O’Reilly grabbed a goal back in the 70th. But the No. 17 Fords finished one shy of a first PIAA tournament berth in program history.

The damage was done in just 21 seconds by the fifth-seeded Cougars (16-5), who advance to host No. 7 Pennsbury in Friday’s fifthplace game. Pennsbury topped No. 6 Abington Tuesday, 4-1. Six teams make states.

Trasatti took the Cougars’ first corner in the 23rd minute. Her backpost delivery spotted the curling run of center back Maren Dougherty, who pounded a downward header with power and pace through the legs of Durfee on the goal line for a 2-1 East lead.