LEWISTOWN - A new rivalry.
That's how Mifflin County field hockey coach Tish Maclay classified the Huskies encounter with State College.
Wednesday in Lewistown, Mifflin County atoned for an early-season loss to the Little Lions by playing one of its best games of the year, Maclay said.
Macie Lucas and Sam Peters each found the net - one in the first half and one in the second - to upend Commonwealth Division foe State College 2-0.
And that rivalry isn't finished just yet.
Mifflin County (10-7, 8-5) secured itself a spot in the District 6 Class AAAA playoffs with a 4-2 win over Carlisle Monday. Wednesday's win guaranteed the Huskies a winning record and a date with State College for the District 6 title Oct. 25.
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* Mifflin County travels to Central Dauphin?East Friday
"I though this was the best we played all season," Maclay said. "We played a full game and our defense stepped up. I think our offense made some really good decisions with the ball."
It was senior day for the Huskies - the bout with State College was Mifflin County's last home game of the season. And a group of seniors sparked an intense group of girls to life for Mifflin County in a crucial game.
In what looked like an even match between the two schools, Mifflin County finally broke through with Lucas' goal midway through the first half. The Mifflin County senior was able to find the cage after senior Whitney Strohecker got her stick on it.
And with Mifflin County sitting on a 1-0 lead, the Huskies weren't about to let up.
Mifflin County's defense was strong all afternoon. Led by senior Mary Havice, the Huskies controlled most of the second half and allowed only five shots by the Little Lions.
"Today we were really hungry," Maclay said. "They've become our new rival. Heading into the playoffs it was important for us to match their intensity and get a win."
The only way State College had any offense was when it carried the ball in the middle of the field and fired to keeper Jordan Myers from outside the circle.
On two separate occasions in the first half, State College's Lauren Bonness broke free and had free strikes on Myers. Myers stoned Bonness and the rest of the Little Lions any time they got inside the shooting circle.
"We said all along 1-0 is not going to do it," Maclay said. "We needed to act like we were two goals down."
The second half started with Mifflin County on the verge of scoring virtually every time it possessed the ball - which was most of the opening 20 minutes of the second half.
With State College starting to press and attack more during the latter stages of the game, Mifflin County started to get breakaway opportunities to seal the game. But that didn't happen until there was one minute left.
Strohecker possessed the ball at midfield and worked the ball all the way to the circle with a defender on her hip. She sent a laser across the circle and found Peters for a one-time goal and ice the game for Mifflin County.
"It was so nice to see Whit set Sam up there at the end," Maclay said. "Obviously that took the pressure off us."
Mifflin County's late-season surge continues when it travels to Central Dauphin East Friday.
