Third time a charm
Cressley, Guiher lead Ike past Mercyhurst Prep
Times Observer Photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower goalie Kylie Guiher makes a save during Monday night's 1A girls soccer quarterfinal playoff game against Mercyhurst Prep.
Times Observer Photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower's Keira Cressley makes a play on the ball while being closely guarded by a Mercyhurst Prep defender.
Times Observer Photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower goalie Kylie Guiher makes a save during Monday night's 1A girls soccer quarterfinal playoff game against Mercyhurst Prep.
Times Observer Photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower's Keira Cressley makes a play on the ball while being closely guarded by a Mercyhurst Prep defender.
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ERIE -- The third time was the charm for the Eisenhower girls soccer team Monday night as it avenged two previous losses to Mercyhurst Prep by holding on for a 1-0 victory in a District 1A quarterfinal at the Hagerty Family Events Center.
Kiera Cressley took a pass from Rose Rondeau inside the first two minutes of the second half for the contest's lone goal.
"We knew Mercyhurst was going to come out aggressive on both ends of the field," Knights head coach Ashley Elms said. "Our game plan was to match their intensity and keep the game clean. I thought our girls did that the entire game."
After Cressley's goal, Eisenhower kept the ball at the Lakers' end of the field and used the clock to its advantage. Kylie Guiher recorded the shutout in goal.
"It was helpful that we played them twice this season," Elms said. "We knew their tendencies and we really focused our practices on not only locking down our defense, but also opening up the middle for our offense to move the ball, which our girls did.
"Our girls wanted it more. Our girls felt that they had something to prove."
Eisenhower improved to 13-6 and will play No. 1 Seneca in a semifinal game on Thursday at a site to be announced later today.
"I'm just so proud of all of these girls, just a total team win," Elms said. "The girls on the sidelines were pumped and the girls on the field fed off of that."