From staff reports

EVERETT -- The teams playing in the District 5 Class AA girls soccer play-in game Thursday were so evenly matched that it took a shootout to decide the contest.

Unfortunately for McConnellsburg, it was the Northern Bedford Panthers who won the round of penalty kicks 4-3 to win the game, 3-2, and move on to the quarterfinals.

The Spartans led 1-0 at halftime on a goal by Casey Pollock, assisted by Nikki McQuade. Pollock added an unassisted goal in the second half.

For Northern Bedford, Anna Zetterstrom scored both second-half goals to send the game into overtime.

After two 15-minute overtime periods, the teams each sent out five players to attempt penalty kicks. The Panthers converted four of the kicks to the Spartans' three.

McConnellsburg coach Toby McGarvey said, "That's not a nice way to end the season, on penalty kicks, after 80 minutes of soccer plus 30 minutes of overtime. Someone's gotta win, someone's gotta lose. Obviously it would've felt better if we would've won."

The Spartans were outshot by a slim margin, 17-14. Goalkeeper Sam McQuade made 13 saves.

"Both teams played their hearts out," McGarvey said, "We pretty much controlled the first half and they controlled the second half. The overtime was a battle back and forth.

"Five times this year we played overtime and you never get used to all those minutes. The girls need to be proud of their efforts this year. I'd like to thank them for that."

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McConnellsburg finished 6-10-2. Northern Bedford (8-8-2) will play at Conemaugh Township on Saturday at noon in the District 5 quarterfinals.

N. Bedford 3, McConnellsburg 2

McConnellsburg 1 1 0 0 -- 2

Northern Bedford 0 2 0 0 -- 2

Northern Bedford won 4-3 on penalty kicks.

McConnellsburg scoring: G -- Casey Pollock 2. A -- Nikki McQuade.

Northern Bedford scoring: G -- Anna Zettertrom 2.

Shots -- McC 14; NB 17. Corner kicks -- McC 2; NB 7. Saves -- McC 13 (Sam McQuade); NB 9 (Kaytee Norris).

Next game: Season is over. NON-LEAGUE GIRLS

Mercersburg Academy 3

St. James 0

Thursday, at Saint James, Md.

Non-league game

Mercersburg Academy broke the game open with 2 second-half goals ... Paige Harry scored off an assist from Any Kelly in the first half ... Lilly Hebert and Mackenzie Quinn added goals for the Storm (7-8-1) ... "I was really happy with the way the team played," Mercersburg coach Jason Bershatsky said. "We only had one sub in the first half and an injury forced us to be without a sub in the second half. Paige Harry scored her first goal with a blistering shot."

Mercersburg 3, St. James 0

Mercersburg 1 2 -- 3

St. James 0 0 -- 0

Mercersburg scoring: G -- Paige Harry, Lilly Hebert, Mackenzie Quinn. A -- Ana Kelly, Quinn.

Next game: Satudray, at home vs. Peddie School, 2.