From Staff reports

MIFFLINTOWN — Juniata head coach Laresa Paden and Midd-West head coach Zach Knepp both had the same messages for their teams after the final horn sounded on Saturday.

Don’t leave goals on the field.

Paden had more to complain about than Knepp did because the Indians dropped a 2-1 decision to visiting Midd-West in a non-league girls soccer match.

“It was a tough fought and very physical game,” Paden said. “Defensively, I thought we did a great job shutting down their attacks as their only goals came from set pieces.”

Midd-West grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first half as Addie Yerg converted a feed from Ava Aitkins to put the Mustangs on the scoreboard.

Juniata tied it at the 17-minute mark as Carolyn Heidenreich set up Mylee Landis for the equalizer.

That score held up until Aitkins notched an unassisted goal in the second half, which proved to be the game-winner.

“It was a tough, physical game,” Knepp said. “Juniata counter-attacked with speed and is a well-coached team. We didn’t capitalize on some great opportunities, but found the back of the net when we needed it for the winner.”

Both teams finished the contest with eight shots on goal, while Midd-West led in the corners by an 8-4 margin.

Addie Maust made seven saves for the Mustangs, while Yaa Serwaa stopped four shots for Juniata.

“I was happy with how our midfield moved on and off the ball,” Paden added. “I thought we possessed the ball better than them, we just got unlucky and needed to capitalize more on our scoring opportunities. Their keeper did a great job.”

Midd-West hosts Selinsgrove today, while Line Mountain visits Juniata on Thursday.

In other girls soccer action:

East Pennsboro

Blanks Huskies

ENOLA — Rian Hammaker scored a hat trick and Raegan Biller turned aside four shots as East Pennsboro blanked Mifflin County 6-0 in Mid Penn Conference Colonial Division action on Saturday.

Madison Gill and Alana Miller scored the first two goals of the game to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Hammaker then went to work as she tallied the next three goals to put the game out of reach. Ashlyn Brysiak set the final with a goal of her own.

East Pennsboro held a 15-4 advantage in shots and led 3-2 in corner kicks. The Huskies’ Liberty Cook made nine saves. Mifflin County’s JVs lost 4-0.

The Huskies host Gettysburg today.

VOLLEYBALL

Southern sweeps

Juniata spikers

THREE SPRINGS — Despite a team-best 11 kills from Hannah Graybill, 17 assists from Maddie Copeland and 19 digs from Miley Hack, the Juniata Indians were swept 3-0 in non-league girls volleyball action on Saturday. The Indians fell 17-25, 11-25 and 24-26.

Copeland also had four kills, two digs and three service points, while Hack added four service points. Hope Kehler turned in eight service points for Juniata to go with four digs, while Grace Reinhold added four kills, four digs and three service points.

Juniata hosts St. Joe’s today.