Both the Indians and Salem Quakers seemed stolid through much of the match as neither team could find the back of the net during regulation.

The Quakers broke the deadlock in the third minute of overtime off a goal from sophomore Abby Perry to give her team a 1-0 win at Sebo Stadium in Salem.

Girard coach Kayla Richey was proud of the way her team fought.

“I think my girls left it all on the field, and I couldn’t ask for more going into overtime.” said Richey, whose team ends the season 3-13-1. “I mean it sucks obviously not winning, but it was a hard fought battle on both sides. I wish them (Salem) good luck in the playoffs.”

Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Kamlyn Valdez of Girard prepares to kick the ball during the first half of a game against the Salem Quakers at Sebo Stadium in Salem. The Quakers won, 1-0, in a Division II sectional first-round game.

“It’s a good building point next year for us. We know our weaknesses. We know our strengths. We’re going to work in the off-season and be a threat next year.”

She knows exactly what the focus will be going into next season.

“Our shooting, moving the ball up the field,” Richey said. “I think we have a really strong defense, maybe lacking in the center a little bit — not center-midfield. Just moving the ball through the center to our forwards. We have good players, just got to tweak them and get them perfect.”

Girard is graduating five seniors (Karley Breckner, Jules Singer, Jacquelyn Cerny, Kamlyn Valdez and Kalin Fellows). Richey appreciated what her seniors have done for the team, but looks to the future.

“My seniors were awesome,” Richey said. “My incoming freshman have some huge shoes to fill, but I hear my incoming freshman are going to fill those shoes. I look forward to working with them and building the team from them.”

Richey’s most memorable thing about the 2019 season was the time spent with her team.

“Building the relationships with my players,” she said. “Watching them grow and improve day-by-day, game-by-game, practice-by-practice.”

After having multiple opportunities to score throughout the match, Salem coach Kent Paulini knew what he had to tell his team going into overtime.

“Really, just keep playing our game.” said Paulini, whose team improves to 5-9-3. “We dominated a lot of that game possession wise, but really just keep looking to play the small stuff. Break them down. Don’t try to lump and chase. Don’t play to their game. Play what we’ve been working on all season.

“We talked a lot about reading their sweeper. She dominated for the whole entire game. She’s a tough player. Just read when she gets out on the edge. Play it right back through the middle and look for the opportunity. We did it right off the bat and it worked.”

Salem advances to play the top-seeded Canfield Cardinals (14-2) on Thursday in a sectional bracket final. Paulini is looking forward to that match.

“I have not seen them in person,” Paulini said. “I know Canfield is going to be a tough opponent.

“Highly-respected team not just in our area, but all across the state. Very-talented squad. We saw them last year and they returned a lot. It’s going to take some patience on our end, but with the fight we got we feel confident.”