WPSL Game Recap: PA Classics 4 – 3 Reading United AC

LANCASTER, Pa. — With the Mid-Atlantic Commonwealth Division championship on the line, Reading United AC battled back from a two-goal second-half deficit but ultimately came up just short in a dramatic 4-3 loss to PA Classics on Saturday at Lancaster Bible College.

Needing a victory to claim the division title, Reading United AC fought until the final whistle, erasing most of a 3-1 deficit behind a remarkable hat trick from Loren Gehret before PA Classics scored the decisive goal deep into stoppage time.

PA Classics opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Liza Suydam finished off an assist from Joey Devlin to give the home side an early 1-0 advantage.

Reading United AC quickly settled into the match and began creating chances of its own. Dulce Lytle was dangerous throughout the afternoon down the left wing, nearly equalizing in the 11th minute after beating her defender before narrowly missing the near post. Olivia Thompson also tested the PA Classics goalkeeper minutes later.

The equalizer finally arrived in the 15th minute after the PA Classics goalkeeper misplayed a clearance. Gehret capitalized on the mistake, collecting the loose ball before sending a stunning 25-yard strike into the net to level the match at 1-1.

Despite the even scoreline, goalkeeper Sarah Gatz was forced into several key saves to keep Reading United AC in the contest. She confidently handled multiple long-range efforts, made a timely kick save on a breakaway in the 35th minute, and moments later produced one of the saves of the match by tipping a powerful shot onto the crossbar.

Reading United AC generated several dangerous attacking moments before halftime through Ava Sallee, Ellie Leffler and Sophia Zeppos, but neither side could find another breakthrough before the break.

The second half began with both teams struggling to create clear opportunities before PA Classics regained the lead in the 61st minute when Ashely Encomomopoulos finished from the top of the penalty area off an assist from her sister, Katelyn Encomomopoulos. Just two minutes later, Ashely Encomomopoulos struck again, finishing the rebound from a breakaway to extend the lead to 3-1 and put Reading United AC’s championship hopes in jeopardy.

Rather than fold, Reading United AC pushed numbers forward and began to seize momentum.

Leffler came inches from scoring after striking the crossbar, while Lytle and Leffler combined for another quality chance that required an outstanding save from the PA Classics goalkeeper. Sallee continued to create opportunities from the flanks, repeatedly delivering dangerous balls into the penalty area.

The comeback began in the 77th minute when Gehret buried a rebound after Isabella Hallal’s initial effort was stopped, cutting the deficit to one.

Only three minutes later, Gehret completed a memorable hat trick. After Sophia Zeppos set up the attack with a pass, Gehret unleashed another blistering strike from distance that beat the goalkeeper to level the match at 3-3 and cap an incredible individual performance. 

PA Classics appeared to reclaim the lead moments later when Liza Suydam found the back of the net, but the goal was waved off for offside.

The closing minutes featured end-to-end action as both sides searched for the winner. Gatz continued her outstanding afternoon by making an incredible save off a late PA Classics corner in the 88th minute, preserving the deadlock.

After Reading United AC nearly found a winner through Lytle and another effort that struck the crossbar, Ashely Encomomopoulos completed her hat trick in stoppage time, finishing a pass from Joey Devlin to give PA Classics a heartbreaking 4-3 victory over Reading United.

Reading United AC pressed forward one final time and appeared poised to earn a last-gasp corner kick, but the final whistle sounded before the opportunity could be taken, ending both the match and the club’s pursuit of the Mid-Atlantic Commonwealth Division title.

Despite the result, Gehret’s three-goal performance highlighted a resilient Reading United AC attack that refused to quit, while Gatz turned in one of her strongest performances of the season with several spectacular saves that kept Reading United AC within striking distance throughout the afternoon. Lytle also impressed on the left wing, consistently creating dangerous attacking opportunities and helping fuel Reading United AC’s second-half rally.

Reading United AC finishes the regular season with a 6-1-1 record, suffering its first defeat in two years. Despite falling just short of a second consecutive Mid-Atlantic Commonwealth Division title, Reading United AC capped another outstanding campaign that saw the club once again contend for a conference championship until the season’s final match.

With the victory, PA Classics moves to 7-0-1, claims the Mid-Atlantic Commonwealth Division title, and advances to the Mid-Atlantic Conference Championship, where it will face the winner of the Mid-Atlantic Colonial Division.