Karns City Girls’ Soccer Dynasty Continues with 22nd Title in 25 Years

BROCKWAY, Pa. – McKenna Martin’s game-winning goal in the final 10 minutes lifted Karns City to its eighth straight District 9 girls’ soccer title and its fourth consecutive in Class 2A with a 3-2 win over Clearfield at Varischetti Field in Brockway Wednesday night.

(Photo by Jared Bakaysa of JB Graphics. See more of Bakaysa’s work here)

It finished the hat trick for Martin, who helped the Lady Gremlins to their 22nd title in the last 25 years.

“It was really a team effort,” Martin said. “We were under a lot of pressure. One lucky ball came through, and we were able to get a cross in and it came back in. All I had to do was run into it and head it.”

Martin’s goal helped Karns City hold off a comeback attempt from Clearfield, which trailed 2-0 at halftime before scoring twice in the first half of the second half to tie the game.

Ellie Smith tied the game at two on a shot from about 30 yards out in the 56th minute after she had gotten the Lady Bison back into the game with a penalty kick in the 46th minute.

Martin had scored twice in the first 15 minutes of the game netting her first in the fourth minute and then her second in the 15th minute.

“We just have to remind ourselves to stay positive and don’t get down,” Martin said about the team giving up two straight goals. “Whenever we put our heads down we play our worst.”

Watch Martin’s full postgame interview.

With the momentum on the Lady Bison side, Brooke Stahlman assisted Martin on a go-ahead goal to put the Lady Gremlins up, 3-2 that stuck the rest of the game.

Karns City will face the runner-up of the District 5-6 title game between Bald Eagle and Bedford, which is being played Thursday, on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at a location and time to be announced.