Welcome, freshman: Kirtzman's goal leads Beacon to fourth straight final

Beacon junior Jenny Angione and senior Sophie Kligler met near midfield for a high-five before the restart. The Blue Demons had just struck first on a goal by freshman Camila Kirtzman and the two couldn’t help but smile.

She was like, ‘What’s up with the freshmen the last few years?’” Angione said.

Tyler Sloan, then a ninth-grader, put Beacon into the finals with an overtime goal. Kirtzman’s came much earlier – in the 21st minute – but it held up. No. 1 Beacon held on for a 2-0 win over No. 5 Petrides in the PSAL Class A girls soccer semifinals Thursday at Flushing Meadows Park in Queens.

An Rong Xu

Beacon's Sophie Kligler smothers freshman Camila Kirtzman after the ninth-grader's first-half goal.

Photos: Beacon-Petrides

An Rong Xu

Petrides goalkeeper Jackie DiBello watches as the ball off Camila Kirtzman's foot goes in for a score.

Photos: Beacon-Petrides

“Last year it was Tyler Sloan who scored our winner against Staten Island Tech right next door here,” Blue Demons coach Kevin Jacobs said. “Another freshman goal in the semifinals and it’s really great to see in the playoffs.”

Beacon (16-0-0), ranked No. 1 in the city by The Post, had has five different goal scorers in three playoff games. The well-balanced team meets No. 3 Tottenville in the championship game 2 p.m. Sunday at St. John’s University. It’s the fourth straight final for the Blue Demons, who won the 2008 spring title.

“The girls most of all want the chance to be back in the finals,” Jacobs said. “We have seniors who have won a championship and we have sophomores and juniors who have been disappointed. Some twice. They’ve very determined to be back in the finals. They really want it and I think it shows.

Petrides (12-3-1), unlike its counterpart, relies so much on senior forward Amanda Feldstein, who led the PSAL with 42 goals. The Blue Demons made sure to keep a close eye on her, rotating a midfielder onto her when she wasn’t up. Jacobs said it took a little something away from his offense, but it was well worth it – she wasn’t able to score.

“Every time they kicked the ball ahead to Feldstein, I’m sure you heard me panicking,” Jacobs said with a laugh.

A Kligler cross led to Beacon’s second goal in the 53rd minute. Sophomore Charlotte Kohlmann went up, colliding with Petrides goalkeeper Jackie DiBello and the ball rolled behind toward the goal. Angione, who was nearby, pounced and poked it in to put the Blue Demons up 2-0. The tally effectively deflated the Panthers, who got the better of play toward the end of the first half.

“Charlotte got her body in front of it and it was kind of bobbling around,” Angione said. “The goalie tipped it and I guess I was just standing there at the perfect time and place and just kicked it in.”

There wasn’t much perfect about Kirtzman’s shot, which Jacobs described as more of a chip. Angione was in the vicinity, but yelled toward the freshman to take it. She kicked it toward the box from about 40 yards and it carried all the way into the top left corner of the goal, over the outstretched arm of DiBello.

“I didn’t know it was intended for a goal,” Kirtzman said. “I just like kicked it. … I didn’t really understand it that much. I was like, ‘Wait, I just scored?’ Then I realized it and I was happy.”

So were the Blue Demons. Jacobs went down the line on his bench for high fives, saying “Who loves freshmen? Who loves freshmen?”

Certainly not anyone who plays Beacon in the semifinals.

mraimondi@nypost.com