COCOLAMUS - East Juniata was stretched to the limit in the opening round of its own girls soccer tournament.
And the title match was even harder.
After winning 1-0 over Milton in the second round of penalty kicks, the Tigers fell 2-0 to Lewisburg in the nightcap, which was a rematch of last year's final, won by the host. Through the day, East Juniata was unable to score a single goal, except in PKs.
"In watching Lewisburg the first game, I thought we would be fairly competitive," East Juniata coach Lori Goodling said. "We were, but when you dont show up there's more pressure on your back. We kind of got away from our core values as a team."
Goodling said despite opportunities her team never found its groove against the Green Dragons, who scored once in each half to avenge last year's outcome.
"We had a couple opportunities where it was a good finishing shot and we didn't put it in and those are the ones you have to make count," she said.
Against Milton, the first round of penalty kicks led to three successes on each side, with Autumn Dressler, McKayla Goodling and Kayla Hoke denting the twine for the Tigers.
Round two was a golden-goal event, and Maddie Trego put the pressure on the Black Panthers by hitting the first shot. Milton's was stopped by East Juniata keeper Zetta Zettlemoyer to advance.
"The Milton game was exciting for sure, it kept you on edge," Lori Goodling said. "It was a good game for Zetta."
East Juniata is 11-4-1, and can clinch the Tri-Valley League title with a win over Lancaster Country Day at home on Tuesday.
Boys soccer
Juniata 5, Line Mountain 1
MANDATA - Jose Lopez added two second-half tallies to the one he scored in the first, logging a hat trick as Juniata downed Line Mountain, 5-1, in Tri-Valley League boys soccer Saturday.
The Indians scored all five of theirs before the Eagles got on the scoreboard - and that was on a penalty kick with just five minutes left to play in the game.
Juniata (7-8-0) will be back on the field today - albeit the one at Fermanagh-Mifflintown Elementary - for a game against Belleville Mennonite that was added to the schedule late last week. It will start at 4:30 p.m.
Greenwood 11,
Millersburg 0
MILLERSBURG - Jarrett Fortenbaugh and Josh Ferguson had a hand in nearly every goal Greenwood scored against Millersburg in their Tri-Valley League boys tilt Saturday, but it was Hunter Wirth who not only matched Ferguson with a hat trick, but made his a natural in the 11-0 rout.
Wirth, who had a goal and an assist in the first half, tallied three times in the first four minutes after the break. Ferguson had the last two before the half to complete his hat trick, along with assists on three others. Fortenbaugh had two goals and four helpers, while Seth Ferguson scored twice for the Wildcats.
Greenwood (14-2) host Lancaster Country Day Tuesday.
Field hockey
East Juniata 7,
Huntingdon 0
COCOLAMUS - Hunter Hepner scored one goal and had East Juniata's only goalie save in a 7-0, non-league field hockey win over Huntingdon Saturday.
With regular keeper Lydia Strawser unavailable, Hepner was pressed into service in the cage in the first half. Stephanie Dressler, who scored a pair of first-half goals, stood in at the back after the break.
"We switched our defense around to accommodate for Hunter's position. They did a great job," East Juniata coach Billie Haines said. "The second half we used Steph and so again we moved girls around in order to account for her absence."
Lydia Koser (goal and assist) and Serina Spancake (two assists) also had multiple-point games for the Tigers.
"They did a great job pushing up into the circle and when it was there we were able to get more than one shot off at a time," Haines said.
East Juniata improves to 12-4 overall. The Tigers host Line Mountain today.
Girls soccer
Danville 3, Midd-West 0
DANVILLE - Danville scored twice in the first half and added another late in the third to shut out Midd-West, 3-0, in a Heartland Conference girls soccer match Saturday.
Midd-West (9-6, 5-6) hosts Selinsgrove today.
