Lady Indians outlast West Perry in weekend contest

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: September 1, 2024

By Kenny Varner

MIFFLINTOWN- It was a bittersweet day Saturday for the Juniata girls soccer team in their game against West Perry .

The Lady Indians came back from an early first half deficit to rally for a 5-goal Second half to outlast the Mustangs, 5-4.

However, Juniata goalie Addison Sheeler was lost due to injury as well as a player from West Perry in separate plays.

“A Saturday morning game is always tough to get up and get going. Their first goal was kind of a weird deflection. We did well to close down it kind of bounced off our defender for the goal. Then we played really well the rest of the first half,” said Juniata coach Garrick Paden. “We got ourselves back in the game. It was a great back and forth game. I am hoping that the girl from West Perry gets back to it shortly and hopefully she’s not terribly beat up and the same for our girl. Hopefully, they bounce back quick.”

The Mustangs charged their way onto the scoreboard just minutes in as they took their second possession and found the net. Laurel Stout blasted a shot that deflected off of a Juniata player for the game’s first goal at 38:12.

From there both defenses took over things as each team were able to close down the goal. Juniata’s back-third came up strong helping their goalkeeper when she needed it.

Juniata’s offense continued to knock on the door throughout but could not find the crack in the Mustang’s armor early on.

In the second half, the Indians started to take the momentum.

It would be a long blast by Sara Montoya that would start the Indians second half surge. Montoya took a blast from long range and it hit beyond the West Perry’s goalie and tied the contest at 37:17.

Back rolled the Mustangs as they took back the lead on a score by Jalinn Kell shot at 36:01.

Juniata punched its second goal just minutes later when the Lady Indians blazed down the field and the ball came to Kailey Smith in transition. Smith made her shot count as she tied the game at two.

Now with the momentum, the Indians took the lead on two consecutive long blast by Mylee Landis, putting the Lady Indians up 4-2.

At the 25-minute mark, the Mustangs cut the Juniata lead to one when Laurel Stout hit a blazing shot that hit the back of the net.

However, the Indians weren’t to be denied as they found paydirt one last time in the contest on a Regan Lowrey goal just under 10 minutes left.

Despite a late penalty kick by Kell, the Indians were able to hold on for the 5-4 victory.

Juniata 5, West Perry 4

WP 1 3 – 4

JUN 0 5 -5

Shots on goals: WP-12, JUN – 9

Corners: WP -4, JUN – 1

Saves: WP – Maggie Morrison 9, JUN – Addison Sheeler 10.