from the Tribune Democrat

HOLLIDAYSBURG – Things were going just the way that Richland coach Nathan Gironda had hoped for in the first 36 minutes of the Rams’ District 6 Class AA match with Bedford on Monday.

Then Lydia Grimes headed in a goal off a corner kick and everything changed.

The top-seeded Bisons pulled away in the second half, beating Richland 5-0 to advance to the district title match.

“That was our goal, to keep it 0-0 for the first half,” Gironda said. “When they got one, that changed our game plan.”

Allison Pittman scored 7 minutes into the second half, and then things escalated quickly.

“Once they got the second goal, we tried to push up,” Gironda said.

Amber Thomas netted three consecutive goals for the Bisons.

Katie Querry recorded the shutout.

“Every player on the field has skill, and they play very systematic passing style of soccer that you don’t see very often around here,” Gironda said of the Bisons. 

“They have 11 players that do it and do it every time. They do have a couple players who are really talented, but what makes them very good is they all pass and move the entire time. They possess the ball better than any team I’ve seen in a couple of years.”

The Bisons will play sixth-seeded Juniata for the district championship on Thursday at Mansion Park in Altoona.

Richland ends the season with a 13-6-1 record.

“For us, record-wise and just goals for and goals against, it’s probably one of the best seasons we’ve had in the past five years,” Gironda said. “We scored more goals than we have the past couple of years and allowed fewer.”

Monday marked the final game in a Richland soccer uniform for seven seniors, including Emily Hill, who leaves as the school’s all-time leader in assists with 41. The other seniors are Lindsey Cox, Harmony Eckroth, Emily Facci, Samantha Felton, Alison Mattes and Allison Patula. “We’re definitely going to miss the seven seniors, all of which have been in the program for three or four years,” Gironda said.n Patula.