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AVONWORTH, Pa. -- Wheeling Park High School junior goalkeeper Maddie Kirchner saved her best for last Sunday.
Kirchner stopped 14 shots, scored the go-ahead goal in a penalty-kick shootout and then made a diving save to seal the victory as the Lady Patriots captured the Lopes Cup Tournament championship match in Avonworth, Pa.
Wheeling Park and Erie Cathedral Prep battled to a 1-1 tie through regulation before the Patriots prevailed 4-3 on penalty kicks.
The championship came a day after Wheeling Park defeated host Avonworth High School 3-0 in Saturday's semifinal.
In Sunday’s final, Cathedral Prep controlled much of the first half and took a 1-0 lead into halftime, with Wheeling Park's defense -- led by Kirchner in goal and anchored by a back line featuring Ellie Robinson, Corin McFarland, Juniper Gandee and Kailey Swartz -- keeping the Patriots within striking distance.
That paid off, as Coach Tom Smith's squad responded in the second half, matching Cathedral Prep's intensity and putting more pressure on the Ramblers' defense.
The Patriots finally broke through midway through the half after earning a free kick from about 25 yards out. Junior midfielder Molly Bradshaw took advantage, driving the ball into the upper portion of the net and just beyond the reach of Cathedral Prep's goalkeeper to tie the game at 1-1.
The score remained even late into regulation, when Bradshaw earned another free-kick opportunity following a foul. She struck the ball well, but the shot sailed just over the crossbar, sending the championship match to penalty kicks.
Wheeling Park went first in the shootout, with McFarland converting to give the Patriots a 1-0 advantage. Kirchner followed with a diving save on Cathedral Prep's first attempt.
Cathedral Prep's goalkeeper then stopped midfielder Maggie Miller's attempt, and the Ramblers converted their next kick to even the shootout at 1-1.
Bradshaw answered by burying her attempt in the upper left corner for a 2-1 Park lead, but Cathedral Prep again responded to tie it.
Junior midfielder Brenna Tipton was next for the Patriots and found the upper right corner to make it 3-2. Cathedral Prep converted once again, knotting the shootout at 3-3.
That set the stage for Kirchner.
The goalkeeper stepped out of the net to take Wheeling Park's fifth attempt and buried her shot for a 4-3 advantage. Kirchner then returned to goal and finished the job, making a diving save on Cathedral Prep's final attempt to secure the tournament championship.
Saturday: Wheeling Park 3, Avonworth 0
Wheeling Park established control early in Saturday's semifinal, dominating the midfield and playing strong defense on its way to a 3-0 victory over host Avonworth.
Miller opened the scoring 10 minutes into the match. Just three minutes later, McFarland converted off a corner kick to give the Patriots a 2-0 advantage.
Miller struck again only two minutes later, scoring her second goal of the half and giving Wheeling Park a commanding 3-0 lead.
That was more than enough for the Patriots' defense.
Kirchner stopped all eight Avonworth shots to record the shutout.