Kendall Dydek’s second goal of the game snapped a 1-1 tie 23 minutes into the second half, lifting Moon Area to a 2-1 victory over Plum Wednesday night in the battle for third place in the WPIAL Class 3A girls soccer tournament.
The win, which came at Moon’s Tiger Stadium, puts the Tigers into the PIAA tournament, which gets under way Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Moon will take on either the first-place team from District 8 or District 9 in its first-round game. The location and time will be announced later.
Dydek scored her first goal 33 minutes into the first half off an assist from Bella Taylor. Dydek launched a high, arcing shot from about 25 yards out that sailed over the head of the Plum goalkeeper and into the net for a 1-0 Moon lead.
Plum tied the score at 1-1 on Emily Grubich’s goal with three minutes to play in the first half. Grubich took advantage of a Moon turnover and lofted a shot from roughly 20 yards out that found the back of the net.
Dydek scored what proved to be the game-winning goal 17 minutes into the second half when she headed home a shot off a perfectly placed service from Anna Palm.
With the win, the Tigers improved to 19-2. Moon had won 14 in a row before losing 4-1 to South Fayette Monday night in the tournament semifinals.
Moon coach Bill Pfeifer said Wednesday’s game was the “toughest of the year to play – and to make it tougher, we played on one day’s rest from the semifinals.
“The kids dug deep and refused to let the season end. They took care of the little things it takes to win and trusted in the process.”
Pfeifer characterized both of Dydek’s goals as “top-level.”
Moon will be returning to the PIAA tournament after a one-year hiatus. Prior to that, the Tigers won three straight state championships – one at the Class 4A level in 2021 and then two in a row at Class 3A in 2022 and 2023.
Moon defeated Abington Heights, 3-1, in 2023; edged Upper Perkiomen, 2-1, in 2022; and blanked Conestoga, 2-0, for the Class 4A title in 2021.
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