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Lady Eagles survive battle with Juniata; Earns trip to D6 title

By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – This one had thriller written all over it.

From beginning to end, the Bald Eagle Area and Juniata girls soccer teams went head-to-head Tuesday in the semi finals of the District 6 playoffs.

The game would be decided by a late first period header by Bald Eagle who would take that goal and protect it for the final 35 minutes to hold off the Indians, 1-0.

“It feels great! These guys have finally clicked and it looked really, really nice,” said Bald Eagle Area coach Jarod Moore. “I am really proud of them.”

Despite the loss, Juniata goalie Hailey Hepner was almost lights out with her saves, collecting 11 on the night to keep her team within striking distance for the entire game. Her first period performance would help spark her team in the second half.

“Bald Eagles a team that plays really defensive and anytime you play them going down a goal is tough,” said Juniata coach Garrick Paden. “We talked to the girls about playing 80 minutes. There was a little lapse their and they put it away. We had a lone goal at Central that got us through and tonight the coin flipped the other way and they got the goal.”

Bald Eagle Area started off the game dominating the field early on placing three early shots at Hepner. Each time Hepner sent them away empty handed.

Juniata had its quick runs at the Eagles defense but were quickly stopped as Bald Eagle changed the field without allowing a shot at their goal.

Bald Eagle blasted 11 shots at the Indians goal in the period but only one would sneak through.

After a back and forth exchange of possession, the Eagles got the ball with the game going under the 6-minute mark.

After the Indians cleared things out, the Lady Eagles would get the ball back and Falen McHenry would bounce a header into the net for the lone goal with 5:13 left in first half.

Holding a 1-0 lead going into the intermission, the Lady Eagles found themselves just 40 minutes away for advancing to the finals.

However, the Lady Indians would not go out without fight as they made their adjustments at the half and followed them to a “T”.

Juniata came out more aggressive and was able to open up some lanes that weren’t available to them early in the game.

With that, Juniata started to put pressure on Bald Eagle goalie Mackenzie Vosniack.

But Vosniack was up for the challenge as she either swatted away shots of saved them, collecting four saves in the second. All of the saves were clutch in keeping the Eagles’ lead alive.

With every tick of the clock the intensity grew and when the dust settled it would be Bald Eagle that remained standing, advancing to the title game on Thursday.

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