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Early success doesn’t stand up for Eagles

SHINDLE — They were in it to the very end.

The Mifflin County Christian girls soccer team got off to a strong start, taking a 3-1 advantage into the intermission.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, Northumberland Christian battled back with three goals in the second to win the contest, 4-3.

Offensively, the Eagles were led by Cora Gentzel, who picked up a hat trick despite the loss.

The Warriors were led on the scoreboard by Anna Ulmer and Samantha Hudson with two goals each.

It was a game of high energy — Northumberland Christian had 25 shots on goal while Mifflin County Christian had 21.

MCCA goalie Sam Mitchell came up strong numerous times on the night as she stopped 11 of the Warriors’ shots while Warriors goalie Caitlyn Gray had six stops.

In the first half, the Eagles took the opening possession and put it right at the Warriors’ defense. But with the possession the ball got free down low to a wide open Gentzel. Gentzel didn’t disappoint as she blasted past the Northumberland goalie for a 1-0 lead with 36:03 left in the first.

Before the Warriors knew what hit them, the Eagles got the ball back down field in transition. They found a wide open Gentzel and she placed it nicely outside of the outstretched hands of the goalie, upping the lead to 2-0.

But Northumberland Christian had an early answer, finding a wide open Ulmer in front of the net and she sent it home, cutting the advantage to 2-1.

The Eagles had the last laugh of the half, as Gentzel secured her hat trick and helped give her team the 3-1 advantage as the buzzer sounded.

“I tried to tell the girls at halftime that it doesn’t matter how we play in the first half if we don’t continue to play well in the second half,” Mifflin County Christian coach Kirk Gentzel said. “Hats off to Newthumberland. They settled in and they played good soccer in the second half. One of our biggest issues in the second half, they possessed the ball.”

Things slowly dissolved for Mifflin County Christian in the second despite the players looking more comfortable in their positions.

The Warriors came out with an extra jump in their step while the Eagles were slowing down.

At the 30-minute mark, Ulmer scored her second of the game, making a one-point, 3-2 contest.

Both defenses kept the other in check until the clock wound down until the 20-minute mark.

The Warriors found the back of the net again as Samantha Hudson caught the ball in transition, tying the game.

As the game clock ticked away, the intensity grew.

The game looked like it might be headed to a possible overtime period as the clock ticked under the seven-minute mark.

But Northumberland Christian worked the ball back down field and Hudson finished off the scoring, giving her team the 4-3 victory.

Northumberland Christian 4, Mifflin County Christian 3

First half

MC — Cora Gentzel (Megan Weyant), 36:03; MC — Gentzel, 31:41; N — Anna Ulmer (Emily Garvin), 12:00; MC — Gentzel, 9:50.

Second half

N — Ulmer, 30:05; N — Samantha Hudson, 22:50; N — Hudson, 5:37.

Shots: NC 25-21. Corners: MC 4-3. Saves: N-6 (Caitlyn Gray); MC- 11(Sam Mitchell)

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