HOLLIDAYSBURG — Richland can chalk up Tuesday’s PIAA Class AA girls soccer playoff game to a learning experience.
The Rams, who only have two seniors on the roster, found out how the game changes at this stage of the season as they were beaten 4-1 by a Loyalsock team with eight senior starters.
“They were definitely aggressive, but when you get to high-level soccer, that’s what teams do,” Richland coach Nathan Gironda said.
“The best teams in the area are the most physical ones, and the best ones in the state are usually the most physical ones.”
Loyalsock (18-4-1), which ended the regular season ranked fourth in Class AA before finishing third in District 4, was more physical than Richland (18-2-2), but Gironda attributed much of that to the Lancers’ edge in experience.
“Part of the deal of being physical and aggressive is being a little older,” he said.
“It’s hard for freshmen to do that against girls four years older. I expect that to pick up a lot next year.”
The Lancers led just 1-0 at halftime but scored twice in the first 6½ minutes of the second half to break it open. Meredith Waters collected a loose ball in the box and put it past Richland keeper Katie Ross for a 2-0 lead in the 44th minute.
Less than three minutes later, Cassandra Soars split the Richland defense after a long pass from Marlee Hibbs and beat Ross from in front of the net.
“Once they got that second goal, we started pushing people up the field and trying to win the game,” Gironda said. “They broke it open a little bit on us, and that will happen.
“Like I told the girls at halftime, we need to score a goal, no matter what. We tried to go out and get that goal and push it into extra time.”
Loyalsock put the game out of reach in the 64th minute with a fourth goal. Ross came out of the net to challenge Waters, and the Loyalsock senior would have had an empty net to shoot at, but the ball trickled wide. Waters tracked it down and found an unmarked Kayla VanFleet on the far side of the field, and VanFleet buried it for a 4-0 lead.
Richland avoided the shutout when Maura Koshute took a pass from Savanna Wingard and beat Loyalsock goalkeeper Amanda Daneker in the 78th minute.
Loyalsock kept pressure on the Richland net throughout the first half, outshooting the Rams 10-4 and earning seven corners to Richland’s one.
The Lancers finally took advantage on their sixth corner to score the first goal.
Keely Henninger’s corner from the left side in the 32nd minute found Paige Klingerman, who headed it past Ross.
“The intensity was good from both teams in the beginning,” Loyalsock coach Kyle Bidelspacher said.
“We just couldn’t get that early goal. We kept pressing and kept pressing and finally got one of a corner kick, which was a good play.”
Loyalsock will play Montoursville or Tamaqua in the second round on Saturday while Richland ends its season after winning the District 6 title.
“You have to be happy that a young team like that just came out of nowhere and really took control of the district,” Gironda said.
“It’s going to be a good future for Richland soccer, and you’ve got to be happy about that.”
High School Sports
Physical Lancers oust Rams
- High School Sports
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Richland's Lumley settles for pair of silver medals
Paige Lumley was on an emotional roller coaster and seeing silver on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Richland senior had state record jumps twice during the triple jump competition, but ended up with a silver–medal leap of 40 feet,
1¾ inches.
Defending state champion, second-seeded junior Lanae Newsome of Brookville, won with a jump of 40-3½. -
Ridge’s Dull takes second with school-record time
Matt Dull finished his athletic career with his best on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Chestnut Ridge senior ran a career-best time of 38.12 to finish second in the 300 hurdles final, also setting another school record. -
Young takes silver in state triple jump
Chestnut Ridge senior Michael Young capped six years of triple jumping with a silver medal Friday on the first day of the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Seth Grove Stadium on the campus of Shippensburg University.
Young had a career-best leap of 45-9¼ just behind Jared Horne of Schuylkill Valley whose winning jump was 46-9. -
Forest Hills’ Smay places fifth in Class AA long jump
Brooke Smay is moving on up.
The Forest Hills junior earned a fifth-place position in the Class AA long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 3 ½ inches Friday on the first day of the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University. -
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There were more than a few huge plays. Of course a number of individuals stepped up to secure a 3-1 victory over LHAC rival Bishop Guilfoyle. -
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Hollidaysburg pitcher Dom Viduya and his Golden Tigers teammates beat defending champion Somerset 3-1 in Thursday’s District 6 Class AAA championship game at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
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Pitcher's 'bad day' results in no-hitter
Bridgit Yothers struggled on the mound on Thursday.
But the Chestnut Ridge right-hander was able to persevere through her issues, throwing a no-hitter against Bedford in their District 5 Class AA semifinal and helping the Lions to a 5-0 victory. -
Local athletes look to shine at PIAA track and field meet
Each of the nearly 50 area athletes who will be competing at this weekend’s PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University, will be looking for his or her best performance of the season, but only the top eight finishers in each event for both boys and girls will stand on the podium in front of the crowd at Seth Grove Stadium.
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Westmont, Somerset represented at PIAA Class AA tennis tourney
The PIAA Class AA tennis tournament showcases the top players in the state, which includes three area athletes, when it begins today at the Hershey Racquet Club.
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Corridini’s hit propels Shade
Tasha Corridini had been having a tough time at the plate on Wednesday.
The Shade leftfielder had struck out twice in her prior two at-bats against Shanksville-Stonycreek pitcher Kayla Stockenus.
But in the bottom of the seventh of a scoreless game with Kaily Karl on first, Corridini clubbed a triple out to the fence, scoring Karl and giving the Panthers a walk-off 1-0 win over the Vikings in a District 5 Class A softball quarterfinal. - More High School Sports Headlines
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