Hometown Sports
Don't Miss

State College takes first match up against MC in field hockey action

Photos by Jeff Shomo
By Kenny Varner

STATE COLLEGE – It was a renewing of a friendly rivalry Thursday as the MIfflin County field hockey team visited the newly renovated Memorial Field in the heart of State College to take on the Little Lions.

It is a meeting that has already built up a legendary match up as the two have met and played for numerous district 6 titles against each other.

But Thursday evening was the first time the two met this season as the played on a very fast turf.

It would be game that State College would come out the victors of a 4-1 decision.

Despite the loss, MIfflin County coach Ashley Suydam was proud of the “Never say Die” attitude her team possessed and the determination to leave everything they had on the field.

“I was really proud of how our team refused to give up. Their (State College) three goals they were just really good goals, it’s hard to beat that. It’s hard to defend that,” said Suydam. “I was really pleased with how we played tonight  compared to how we played at Cumberland Valley. That was a  tough game but  we had more opportunities today than what we’ve had. It’s always tough going from turf to grass to turf. It’s something we will always have to deal with. “

In the first quarter, the Little Lions got on the board first when Phoebe Herlocher sent a shot that ricochet off of teammate’s Nicole Zeiler’s stick and into the back of the box with 8:19 still left in the opening period.

State College continued to work is way into the defensive backfield of the Huskies but could not collect another goal.

When the second quarter started, the Little Lions continued  to push the ball forward and was knocking on the door for most of the period.

However, goalie Coletta Beeler was doing her best to send State College away and frustrated.

But as the time dropped down to under five minutes State College was able to penetrate and send the ball past Beeler, making it 2-0.

This time Herlocher fired a rocket at the corner of the net.

At the half, State College held a 2-0 advantage.

Coming out of the half, the Little Lions added two goals from Rebecca Bonnes extending the lead to a 4-0 advantage.

In the final stanza, MIfflin County started to get some momentum.

It was led by a breakaway attempt by Alyssa Lynch who was fouled inside the box area, giving her team a chance to score on a penalty shot.

MIfflin County gave the ball to Lydia Hidlay and as the stare down between her and State College’s goalie began, the whistle blew and Hidlay went to the upper left corner for the Huskies lone goal.

“But I thought especially going into the last quarter we were down but they didn’t give up,” said Suydam. “They played hard and we were talking better. We just need to keep it out of the defensive side so much.”

State College outshot MIfflin County 19-3 while they also led in corner opportunities by a 12-1 margin.

Beeler was very busy picking up 15 saves in the process.

The two team will be back in action against each other on Saturday at MIfflin County.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.