BROCKWAY — McKenna Martin is no stranger to finding the net, but some goals mean more than others.

Some goals win championships, as was the case with Martin's third and final tally Wednesday night.

The Gremlins were on their heels, searching for momentum in a 2-2 stalemate with Clearfield when Martin's header gave them the lead for good in the 68th minute of the District 9 Class 2A girls soccer title game at Frank Varischetti Field.

The 3-2 victory earned for the Gremlins their eighth straight district crown and 22nd overall.

In the boys final, KC came up short in a bid for its first district title in three years, falling to Punxsutawney 3-0.

Martin's deciding goal came shortly after a throw-in to the right of Clearfield's net. An initial shot was stopped by Bison defender Emily Shipley, but her attempt to clear the ball failed and Martin soon directed her header toward Clearfield goalkeeper Hayley Moore.

KC forward Brooke Stahlman obstructed Moore's view.

“Scoring that one means everything,” said Martin, a freshman forward. “It was amazing, a crazy play.”

Martin's first two goals came in the first half, one off a corner kick from Stahlman.

Except for a few free kicks that were quickly picked up by the Gremlins and a crossing pass intercepted by goalkeeper Rossi McMillen, Clearfield's attack in the first 40 minutes posed no threat.

But the Bison opened up the second half with purpose and KC's 2-0 lead seemed vulnerable.

The rush produced two goals, both scored by freshman forward Elle Smith. She made it 2-1 with a penalty kick in the 46th minute and tied the game 10 minutes later on a shot from 25 yards.

Sophomore midfielder Emma Hipps was also responsible for placing a lot of heat on McMillen.

“It took our girls a while to get used to the physical play and what the refs were allowing,” said Clearfield coach Todd Winters. “Elle had 35 goals coming in and that led the team. She's a natural soccer player.”

KC coach Tracy Dailey admitted her team was shaken by Clearfield's change in pace and the two goals it produced.

“We panicked,” she said. “I looked at my assistant (Tyler Pollock) and said, “We're in trouble.'

“But we battled back. I told our players that it only takes one trip down the field. It doesn't have to be pretty, as long as we get one more than they do.”

McMillen had five saves, all in the second half. Moore stopped eight shots for the Bison (14-5-1).

Karns City (17-1-1) begins play in the state playoffs Tuesday.

Boys Soccer

Punxsutawney 3, Karns City 0

Scoring first doesn't guarantee victory, but it allowed the Chucks to set the pace and the Gremlins never recovered.

Vincent Gigliotti scored the first of his two goals in the 16th minute, paving the way for Punxsutawney to win its first district championship in eight years.

The two teams met in the regular season and KC came away with a 1-0 win.

“We scored early and basically parked a bus in the box to get out of there with a victory,” said Gremlins' coach Jim Grenninger. “We were hoping to score first again tonight, but it didn't happen.”

“After that (first) game, we went back to the drawing board,” said Punxsutawney coach Eric Eddy. “We changed things up a bit with how we played on offense. Scoring first tonight, it didn't allow them to load the box.”

The Chucks (17-3) didn't sit back after gaining the lead Wednesday. Gigliotti scored again in the 38th minute against KC goalkeeper Malik Metcalfe.

“They are taller, bigger and quicker than us,” said Grenninger. “They played those long balls and with their speed, we struggled with that tonight.”

Zach Reitz capped the scoring with a goal in the 56th minute.

Chucks' goalkeeper Jake Ebel stopped three shots. KC's other scoring chances fizzled before he was challenged.

Dakota King, who scored 49 goals this year for the Gremlins (18-2), was in the middle of KC's attempt to crack the scoreboard. His header sailed over the net in the 22nd minute and he was denied by a diving save from Ebel just before halftime.

“They were playing three in front of our guys and three behind them,” said Grenninger. “We got caught up in that lane in between.”

Metcalfe made six saves and Nate Boyden one for the Gremlins.