Alex Cottingham

CHAMBERSBURG — By the narrowest of margins, State College left Trojan Stadium with a girls soccer victory Thursday night.

A goal with 14 minutes remaining by Erica Feese stood as the game-winner for the Little Lions, who barely hung on in the final few minutes for a 2-1 Mid Penn Commonwealth win over Chambersburg.

“Especially in the second half, I thought we outplayed them and had a lot more chances,” Trojan coach Ed Franchi said. “It just sometimes takes us a while to start playing.”

Chambersburg (8-7, 4-6 MPC) did take a 1-0 lead 9 1/2 minutes into the game when a pass by Alex Cottingham found Gabby Lecuona and Lecuona’s strong left foot sent a shot skidding past State College keeper Jenny Mejia.

But the Little Lions (9-6-1, 6-5 MPC) evened the count on a defensive miscue 10 minutes later. An innocent looping pass was sent into the box by SC, but goalkeeper Whitney Dorcely and defender Emily Mort bumped into each other, the ball came loose and Olivia Noel was there to nod the ball into the net.

Franchi said, “We sort of went to sleep in the last part of the first half; we weren’t moving well.”

But that changed after halftime. Lecuona had a breakaway in the second minute, but her hard shot just missed outside the post.

“She hit it hard and low and to the right place (far post), but it just missed,” Franchi said. “She usually hits those.”

State College went ahead on Feese’s goal. A pass by Josie Garrigan sent Feese to the left side and her tough-angle shot got past an onrushing Dorcely.

But the Trojans did not go down without a fight. They put four shots on goal in the final six-plus minutes, but keeper Kristen Lenze was up to the task.

With just under a minute left, Lecuona teed up a shot from close in, but it banged off Lenze and came outside the box. Brooke Huntsman sent the ball right back in, but Lenze caught it just in front of several charging Trojans.

Franchi said, “I have to make them understand how talented they are sometimes. They have shown it, but just not all the time. I thought we supported each other well tonight.”

NOTES: Lecuona now has 19 goals and five assists, including six goals in the last four games … The Trojans were 13th in Class 6A in the District 3 power rankings before the loss; the top 16 teams qualify … Chambersburg plays at Greencastle on Saturday, then meets Central Dauphin and Carlisle next week … The Little Lions led in shots, 14-11.

State College 2, Chambersburg 1
State College            1     1     —     2
Chambersburg        1     0     —     1
First Half
Ch — Gabby Lecuona, asst. Alex Cottingham, 10th minute
SC — Olivia Noel, 21st minute
Second Half
SC — Erica Feese, asst. Josie Garrigan, 67th minute
Shots — SC 14; Chbg 11. Shots on goal — SC 6; Chbg 6. Corner kicks — SC 2; Chbg 3. Saves — SC 5 (Jenny Mejia 1, Kristen Lenze 4); Chbg 4 (Whitney Dorcely). Offsides — Chbg 2.