Field hockey: Huskies tripped up by Little Lions, 3-0
Trending
STATE COLLEGE — It was a rivalry renewed Thursday when the upstart Mifflin County field hockey team went up against a veteran State College team at Memorial Stadium in downtown State College.
In the end, it would be the Little Lions that would win 3-0.
The game would be a close 1-0 contest until late in the fourth quarter.
"I’m extremely proud of my girls. They played exactly how I asked them too. They played very composed. They did not fall into the physical game that was happening out there today," said Mifflin County coach Coletta Beeler. "We did only get one card today, which I was very proud of them, for only having that one card after really fighting for that. I’m just very proud of them tonight."
The first quarter proved to be a very defensive one on both sides as the two battled most of the quarter in the middle area of the field.
State College took the first run into the Mifflin County side as Brynn Pezalski took three shots at the Huskies goal and was stopped by a strong effort by Mifflin County goalie Mya Felmlee. Felmlee had three saves in the first.
Offensively, the Lady Huskies had their time in the Little Lions end but weren't able to capitalize on the pressure as the State College defense collapsed on the Huskies offense out in the top of the circle.
In the second quarter, Mifflin County went strong at the heart of the Little Lions defense. They were able to get three shots off in the period but was unsuccessful.
As the quarter hit its midway point, State College once again put the pressure on the Huskies back line.
At the 5:41 mark, State College ended the scoreless tie. Brynn Pezalski scored on an assist from Addy Miska.
In the third quarter, both teams came out of the intermission and turned up the intermission.
The Huskies forced the first corner, but could not get a good look at the Little Lions goal and was turned away.
Defensively, the Mifflin County backline held strong, thwarting any chance of a State College goal.
The group stayed tough as the two teams went into the final stanza, still within striking distance.
"My backline has been amazing this year so far. We really talked about going into this game, about alleviating the pressure, that if we get stuck in a sticky position, that we’re not setting the ball up the middle and kind of just heading outside and looking for our options, rather than giving turnovers in that middle," said Beeler.
Coming into the fourth the Huskies went strong trying to break onto the scoreboard.
But as the time started to tick down, it would be State College that put the game out of reach.
In the middle of a crowd of players Little Lions Carly Baker found an opening and sent home her team's goal, with 5:38 left.
As time was running out State College got another insurance goal when Pezalski, hit her second goal on a penalty shot at 37.7.
Mifflin County will be back in action Monday as they travel to Red Land.
State College 3, Mifflin County 0
MC 0 0 0 0 – 0
SC 0 1 0 2 – 3
First quarter
None
Second quarter
SC – Brynn Pezalski from Addy Miska, 5:41.
Third quarter
None
Fourth quarter
SC – Carly Baker unassisted, 5:38.
SC – Pezalski, PS :37.7
Shots on goal: MC – , SC – .
Corners: MC – , SC – .
Saves: MC – Mya Felmlee 11, SC – Cora Bierly 1.
FROM STAFF REPORTS
CROSS COUNTRY
Huskies place 24th in division
Mifflin County boys cross country placed 24th out of 46 teams in the Gold Division.
"It's rare that results paint the full picture; we were down a big number in Koy Aurand (illness) and it was incredibly hot. However, today we struggled to position up where we needed to. These guys knew there were no excuses. We came to Paul Short two years ago and failed to really perform then as well. It didn't mean much when it came to the post season (we were able to turn things around), but there are definitely some items to iron out as we head into Mid-Penns, districts and states. It's tough because you go to Paul Short to run fast, and the reality is it just wasn't the day for it. That expectation caused us to hesitate when we really just needed to shift mindset. We have a big break in racing now, and so I've asked the team to take 24 hours and then implement some small tweaks to our approach. I believe in this year's team just as much as I did the last. I'm excited to put together another small training block with them before our taper,” Huskies coach Alex Monroe said.
Huskies place 17th at Lehigh
The Mifflin County girls cross country team traveled to Lehigh University to run Paul Short on Thursday. They placed 17th out of 39 teams in the highest level race.
“The girls had a strong start and most of them moved up in places as the race progressed. Elissa Bell was the first Husky to finish strong with Libby Cook not far behind. Libby and Daliyah Bargas, the next Husky to finish, achieved pr’s today. For all the girls, the fitness is there even if they did not have the outcome they were hoping for. I am so proud of how they continue to encourage each other and mature in their racing strategy. We have a two week break from racing, so that gives us time to get in some training sessions to prepare for the last part of our season,” MC coach Kristin Kauffman said.
BOYS SOCCER
Indians pummel Crushers, 14-0
Juniata boys soccer bulldozed Bishop McCort on Thursday, 14-0.
First-half goals came from Jackson Shellenberger, assisted by Alex Portzline (39:05), Landon Beward, assisted by Josue Osorio (36:21), Portzline, assisted by Jackson Shellenberger (35:40), Chase Hartland, assisted by Alex Portzline (33:39), Dayton Miller, assisted by Alex Portzline (23:44), Ty Dressler, assisted by Alex Portzline (23:08), Miller, assisted by Josue Osorio (19:34), Shellenberger at (15:05), Juniata scored after an own goal by McCort (14:56), Ty Dressler scored, assisted by Nixon Cleck (7:31).
Second-half goals came from Myles Imes, assisted by Carter Swab (37:41), Dayton Miller at 30:52, Swab, assisted by Ryder Noss (6:09), Ryder Noss at 1:02.
Juniata outshot McCort, 30-0. They had more corners, 10-0. Bishop McCort tallied 14 saves.
FROM WEDNESDAY
JUNIOR HIGH
CROSS COUNTRY
Huskies earn wins in tri-meet
Racing at Carlisle High School Wednesday, the Mifflin County Junior High cross country teams both earned wins in a tri-meet with host Carlisle and CD East.
In the boys two-miler, the Huskies’ Kenneth Swartzell claimed second place, with teammate Aiden Wible taking fifth overall in the field of 34 runners–all but ten of which were from Carlisle. Tanner Napikoski was 12th for the Huskies, with Sam Mills, Thomas Connors, Leonodis Stivala and Nolan Wade rounding out the MC contingent. Mifflin County scored a 19-42 win over CD East, but lacked the numbers to beat Carlisle, falling 29-40.
Lillen Adams was second in the girls’ race, and Adalyn Lutz recorded her best finish of the year, taking fifth place. Hannah Russler finished 16th among the 32 racers. Despite only three runners, Mifflin County still edged CD East, 28-29. Carlisle was victorious against the Huskies, 21-40.
Mifflin County will be right back on the starting line Saturday, competing in the prestigious Gettysburg Invitational at Gettysburg High School. Start times will be 11:30 a.m. for the girls, followed by the boys at noon.