PERRY — A second-half scoring explosion turned a competitive postseason opener into a runaway victory for Perry Girls Soccer on Thursday.
The sixth-seeded Pirates scored four goals in a three-minute span early in the second half and cruised to a 7-0 victory over No. 29 Edgewood Girls Soccer in a Division IV Northeast 5 sectional final, ending the Warriors’ season and advancing to Tuesday’s district semifinal.
The Chagrin Valley Conference showdown featured a relentless Perry attack that produced 30 shots on frame and seven goals from four different players.
“We did have a lot of shots on frame. I think more in the second half than the first half, and it was good to get a lot of shots off,” Perry coach Rich Stavar said. “It would always be better if we found the net with some of them. I think we had a couple of really good opportunities that we just didn’t put away. It’s good to get that volume of shots this early in the playoffs.”
Emma Bartlett opened the scoring just five minutes into the contest, converting a touch pass from Riley McCarley to put the Pirates ahead, 1-0.
Perry doubled its advantage in the 20th minute when Andora Porcello finished a scoring opportunity created by Aubrey Hopkins.
Despite generating numerous chances, the Pirates carried just a 2-0 lead into halftime.
That changed almost immediately after the break.
McCarley struck in the 43rd minute and scored again in the 44th, doubling Perry’s lead to 4-0 and putting the Warriors on their heels.
Porcello added her second goal of the night later in the 44th minute, and Bartlett followed with her second in the 45th as Perry erupted for four goals in just three minutes.
Suddenly, a two-goal halftime lead had ballooned to 6-0.
The offensive outburst reflected the adjustments Perry made as the Pirates began finding space behind Edgewood’s defense.
“It did take a while,” Stavar said. “We started to find our feet and split the defense a little bit more. Then, the goal got a little bit bigger.”
Perry completed the scoring in the 59th minute when Katy Rockwell, who had moved out of her goalkeeper position, found the back of the net to make it 7-0.
Bartlett, McCarley and Porcello each finished with two goals, while Rockwell added one. McCarley and Hopkins also recorded assists.
The victory marked Perry’s second shutout of Edgewood this season. The Pirates defeated the Warriors, 5-0, in their regular-season meeting on Sept. 24.
Edgewood goalkeeper Carly Tracy recorded 30 saves Thursday in a determined effort against Perry’s sustained offensive pressure.
The Warriors finished their season with a 5-10-1 record.
Pirates prepare for Firelands
Perry’s reward for its convincing postseason opener is another home game, but the competition figures to get considerably tougher.
The Pirates will host No. 12 Oberlin Firelands in a Division IV Northeast 5 district semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 7:00 p.m.
Firelands advanced with an 8-0 sectional victory over Garrettsville Garfield on Thursday.
The Falcons bring a potent offensive attack into the matchup, presenting a significant challenge for a Perry team looking to continue its postseason run.
“It’s always good to be at home, especially against a team like Firelands; they’re really good,” Stavar said. “They’re really good up top. I think they scored almost 90 goals this season, so it’s good to be at home.”
The winner advances to the district championship game on Saturday, Oct. 31.
For Perry, Thursday’s performance provided an encouraging start to tournament play. The Pirates generated scoring chances throughout the evening, found their finishing touch after halftime, and kept another opponent off the scoreboard.
Now, they’ll need to carry that momentum into Tuesday’s showdown against a Firelands team capable of matching their offensive firepower.
More Girls Soccer Coverage From OhioVarsity.com
- Edgewood Warriors Girls Soccer
- Perry Pirates Girls Soccer
- CVC Girls Soccer
- Girls Soccer News
- Division IV, Region 5 Bracket
Girls Soccer Match Result
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
 Edgewood Warriors | 0 |
 Perry Pirates | 7 |
Top Performers
Edgewood
Perry
Player Stats
Edgewood
| Player | G | A | S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carly Tracy | 0 | 0 | 30 |
Perry
| Player | G | A | S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emma Bartlett | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Riley McCarley | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Andora Porcello | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Kathryn Rockwell | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Aubrey Hopkins | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Ellie Keringer | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Abigail Sturgill | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Game Notes
Updated automatically through this result and the latest reported player stats.
