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Neimond leads TVL All-Stars

The East Juniata girls’ soccer team dominated throughout the Tri-Valley League’s North Division, allowing just five goals in league play in 2019. The Tigers were rewarded by the league office with five players earning TVL all-star nods.

Senior midfielder Thea Neimond was voted to the first team unanimously and was recognized as league MVP. Neimond led the league in scoring with 69 points, finished second in the league in goals with 25 and first in assists with 19.

“Thea is a one of a kind work horse, she never gives up and will keep running and create opportunities everywhere on the field,” Tigers coach Valeria Dressler said. “She stepped up into a position that she was not used to and excelled at it.”

Kierstyn Fogle was also named a TVL first-team selection. The junior forward was second in league play among scoring leaders with 65 points, first in goals with 30 to go along with five assists.

“Kierstyn also word very hard for us to create opportunities, and running the middle and both flanks,” Dressler said. “She will give you100 percent and keeps improving every game at the position we ask her to play. She has the drive and is hungry to receive that ball and get goals.”

Senior defender Paris Feltman was the third East Juniata player to be selected to the first team.

“Paris had a great season after coming back from an ACL injury,” Dressler said. “She was also a rock in the centerback position, usually being the first to step to the ball. She did well with containing a ball and waiting for opportunity to step in.”

Senior forward Clarye Guyer and senior defender Madison McDonald were named to second team.

“Clarye was great at being a rock in the midfield,” Dressler said. “She won everything out of the air, was not afraid to be aggressive and did well to see both sides of the field.”

“Madison was an excellent outside back who really stepped up each year,” Dressler continued. “She brought it to the next level this year and was scoring goals as we asked of her. She did so well to transition both into an offensive and defensive position.”

With all these accolades, it comes to no surprise that Dressler was name TVL Coach of the Year for the third year in a row.

“It has been great to have been recognized three years in a row as Coach of the Year,” Dressler said. “Christian and I work hard, putting every free second into the team. We hope to keep changing the program for the better and to keep succeeding.”

The Greenwood Wildcats blazed through the Tri-Valley League with a (7-0-1) record in field hockey and had four All-Star selections in Grace Lesh, Leah Bryner, Hailey Womer and Kelsey Sheaffer.

Lesh was second in the league in points with 29 and was tied for first in goals scored with 11. She also finished third in assists with seven. Lesh was voted in unanimously.

“After missing most of her junior season, to see her come back was exciting to see,” Wildcats coach Kent Houser said. “She was the leading scorer of the team.”

Junior Bryner had 12 points with four goals and four assists each in the league.

“She has been a main stay for us for three years in the midfield,” Houser said. “We really go by how she goes.”

Fellow junior Womer was voted in unanimously. In the TVL, Womer was fourth among the scoring leaders with 17 points, 6 goals and five assists.

“She has improved every year,” Houser said. “I really thought she was the most dynamic player in the league.”

The final Wildcat to be selected was Sheaffer, the goalkeeper. The senior led the league in save percentage with 92.31 and had 36 saves.

“She’s been a great player for us this year,” Houser said. “I’m glad to see her finally get the recognition she deserves.”

Last but not least, Houser was given the honors of TVL Field Hockey Coach of the Year. Despite the honor, Houser believes that it was a total team effort.

“That’s just a reflexion of the team and coaching staff,” Houser said.

Juniata girls soccer finished second in the TVL North division with a (9-3) record and six selections to the TVL all-stars.

Sophomore forward Ashlyn Pannebaker was tied for third among the scoring leaders with 37 points — 13 goals and 11 assists.

“Ashlyn did a really good job at finding the back of the net for us,” Indians coach Laresa Paden said. “She has a great shot on goal and has a lot of speed up top.”

Nylah Pannebaker was also named to first team All-Stars. The senior midfielder had 35 points, 12 goals and 11 assists.

“Nylah is just one of those players every coach wants on their team,” Paden said. “She works hard in the offseason, comes into preseason prepared, and gives 100 percent in practice and games. She sees the field so well and was great at distributing and finding the back of the net. She creates so much for us offensively.”

Fellow senior midfielder Liseth Montoya joined the first team with 19 points, nine goals and an assist.

“Liseth is a great defensive mid player,” Paden said. “She does an outstanding job at shutting down players on other teams that create the play. She dribbles well out of pressure, holds the ball and distributes well under pressure.”

The final first-team selection for Juniata was senior defender Maci Kreider.

“Maci Kreider at centerback is a brick wall for us in the back,” Paden said. “She wins so many ball out of the air, distributes well to our midfielders and has great composure in the back.”

Junior midfielder Katey Martin was named to the second team. Martin had six assists in the league.

“Katey does a good job for us in the mid-field,” Paden said. “She is a technical player and she sees the field well and makes good runs off the ball to support us going forward.”

The final selection for the Indians was junior defender Makenzie Beward.

“Makenzie is aggressive in the back and steps well to win the ball,” Paden said. “She uses her body extremely well to get in front of the ball and win 1v1 to goal.”

Juniata also had two selections to the TVL All-Stars in volleyball in seniors Hunter Johns and Madison Royer.

Johns was third in the league in kills with 40, had 109 digs, 18 aces and two blocks. Royer had 69 digs, 13 aces and six blocks.

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