A historic run finally ended Saturday in Hershey as Loyalsock dropped a heart-breaking 3-2 decision in the Class AA state semifinals to Moravian Academy. Loyalsock lost for the first time in 21 matches, finishing a school-best 20-1 while romping its way to a district championship without losing a set all season. It was the first time a District 4 team ever reached the state semifinals in the expanded 16-team format and Loyalsock came nearly as close as possible to reaching the state semifinal, losing No. 2 doubles 7-5 in the third set.
"We definitely wanted to win districts and see what happened from there and to get this far was really great," Loyalsock coach Rick Zimmerman said. "The girls were great and deserved every minute they had."
Emily Niditch won at No. 2 singles, 6-1 and 6-1 while Ashleigh Bair and Anna Newcomer took No. 2 doubles in straight sets. Loyalsock won its first two state tournament matches in dramatic fashion, taking both 3-2 with Anna Criswell and Sammie Via making a dramatic comeback in the opening round to clinch that win. Pam Niditch won the district singles championship, defeating her sister Emily in the final and Loyalsock established itself as the best girls tennis team in District 4 history.
In boys soccer, East Juniata's Nick Lorenz scored twice and the Tigers defeated Loyalsock, 3-0 in a District 4 Class A boys soccer quarterfinal at Midd-West. The Lancers, who started the season 3-5, finished 11-8-1.
Cody Schmouder scored a first-half goal for Liberty to tie the game, but Bloomsburg scored the next six and won the District 4 Class A quarterfinal, 7-1. Tristan Wright and Jon Nixon scored three goals each for the Panthers and Liberty finished 10-8-1.
In men's soccer, Milton graduate Tarik LaRoche scored two goals to lead Penn College to a 3-0 win over PSU Hazleton. The Wildcats claimed its third consecutive Penn State University Athletic Conference Championship. Junior David Munn recorded three saves in the shutout while sophomore Blayne Allen added a goal for Penn College (15-2-1, 11-0 PSUAC).
The Wildcats will next travel to Asheville, N.C. for the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Soccer Championships. They will take on West Virginia Tech at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1
Lock Haven closed out the season with a 1-0 double overtime loss to Slippery Rock. The Bald Eagles finished (6-10-1, 2-7 PSAC).
A three-goal outburst by Hood College in the second half helped the Blazers take a 3-0 Commonwealth Conference decision from the Lycoming.
In women's soccer, Reda Vermilya made nine saves, but Penn College lost 1-0 to Alfred University.
The Saxons scored on a penalty kick late in the first half.
Alexis Getty scored her first career goal, but Mansfield fell 4-1 to Edinboro on Senior Day.
Lock Haven fell 3-0 to Slippery Rock in the season finale at Hubert Jack Stadium.
Freshman Kaitlyn Gulotta scored twice, including with four minutes left in the second overtime, leading Lycoming to its first win in the Commonwealth Conference since 2009, posting a 3-2 win over Hood.
In college volleyball, Lock Haven swept Cheyney 3-0 and downed Seton Hill 3-1.
Lock Haven pushed its win streak to seven matches in its first match of the day, sweeping Cheyney, 3-0 (25-9, 25-15 & 25-2).
In their second match of the day, the Lady Eagles defeated Seton Hill, 3-1 (25-17, 19-25, 25-18 & 26-24).
Freshman Bethany Richardson led Lycoming with 15 kills during a pair of matches at the Seahawk Invitational, but the Warriors fell, 3-0 (25-13, 25-15, 25-8) to Stevenson, and 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-20) to Randolph.
In Sprint Football, Mansfield freshman Casey Huff caught three touchdown passes, sophomore Jeremy Estremera rushed for 113 yards and the Mountaineer defense recorded a school-record seven interceptions to lead Mansfield to a 32-14 win over Franklin Pierce in Senior Day at Karl Van Norman Field Saturday afternoon.
In college cross country, with a career-best 17th-place finish, senior Michelle Herman earned her second straight second-team All-Middle Atlantic Conference honors to highlight Lycoming's day at the MAC Championships at Letter Kenny Fields. The women's team took 10th in a 17-team field, the highest finish for the program since 2006, while the men's team finished 15th out of 17 teams.
Herman led the Warriors with a time of 25:19.36 on the 6K course, as she became the first Warrior women's cross country runner in school history to earn two all-conference honors in a career.
Freshman Peter Rittenhouse led the men's team, finishing in 31:06.70 to take 104th in the 8K race.
In college swimming, Lycoming sophomore T.J. Guminski kicked off the season with wins in both the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke, but the Warriors fell to Albright, 146-108, on the men's side and 155-84 on the women's side.
Girls Tennis
Moravian Academy 3,
Loyalsock 2
Class AA State Semifinals
Singles
1, Kara Chung, M, def. Pam Niditch, 6-1, 6-2; 2, Emily Niditch, L, def. Natasha Deb, 6-1, 6-1; 3, Mia Chung, M, def. Kim Levy, 7-5, 6-4
Doubles
1, Ashleigh Bair/Anna Newcomer, L, def. Lena Deb/Katie Burke, 6-4, 6-3; 2, Prya Atiyh/Arden Ashford, M, def. Anna Criswell/Sammie Via, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5
Records: Loyalsock 20-1.
BOYS SOCCER
East Juniata 3, Loyalsock 0
Boys Class A Quarterfinal
AT Midd-West
EJ - Nick Lorenz, 6:04; EJ - Hunter Gingrich, 10:35; EJ - Lorenz, 35:08.
Shots: L - 5, EJ - 24. Corners: L - 1, EJ - 7. Saves: L - 22 (Louis Comfort) EJ - 2 (Adam Strawser).
Records: Loyalsock 11-8-1.
District 4 Class A Quarterfinals
Bloomsburg 7, Liberty 1
B-Tristan Wright (Klinger), 7:11; L-Cody Schmouder, 15:16; B-Jon Nixon (Arman), 30:14; B-Wright, 36:56; B-Cade Arman, 50:47; B-Wright (Nixon), 54:00; B-Nixon, 56:04; B-Nixon, 60:33
Shots on Goal: B-10, L-2. Corners: B-2, L-1. Saves: B-1, L-3. Goalies: Bloomsburg (Colin Warren); Liberty (Jacob Spring).
Records: Liberty 10-8-1.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
EDINBORO 4, MANSFIELD 1
EDIN - Karisa Fernandez (9) (Jenna Madison), 2:26; EDIN - Liz Debo (13) (Karisa Fernandez), 8:28; MAN - Alexis Getty (1) (unassisted), 52:22; EDIN - Nicole Dunlap (1) (Karisa Fernandez), 70:52; EDIN - Liz Debo (14) (unassisted), 77:42
Shots: Edinboro 19, Mansfield 23. Saves: Edinboro 10 (Meghan Kelly 10), Mansfield.
Records: Edinboro 12-3-2, 9-3-2 PSAC; Mansfield 3-12-2, 1-11-2.
LYCOMING 3, Hood 2
HOOD - Lia Miller (3) (Sam Norris), 35:17; LYCOW - Briana Riddick (2) (Leah Handwerk), 43:09; LYCOW - Kaitlyn Gulotta (3) (Leah Handwerk), 48:16; HOOD - Aimee Smith (2) (Lia Miller), 61:29; LYCOW - Kaitlyn Gulotta (4) (Stephanie Watters), 106:18.
Shots: Lycoming 25, Hood 10. Saves: Lycoming 5 (Sam Stropko 3; Jennifer Basch 2), Hood 6 (Leah Norris 6)
Records: Lycoming (2-13-3, 1-7-1 Commonwealth); Hood (2-15-0, 0-9-0).
ALFRED 1, PENN COLLEGE 0
A- Tracie McGinnity (PK), 44:57
Shots: A- 17; P- 15. Corner kicks: A- 6; P- 3. Saves: A- 6; P- 9. Goalies: A- Sanjo Scheer; P- Reda Vermilya
SLIPPERY ROCK 3, LOCK HAVEN 0
S- Calin Conner (Henny), 12:13; S- Nicole Krueger (PK), 77:41; S- Steph Buckenheimer (unassisted), 83:30
Shots: S- 9; L- 2.Corner kicks: S- 3; L- 0. Saves: S- 1; L- 2. Goalies: S- Dana O'Neill; P- Dana Wozniak
Men's Soccer
Hood 3, Lycoming 0
HOOD - Eric Diehl (7) (Ian McDonald), 51:44; HOOD - Ian McDonald (4) (Eric Diehl), 81:51; HOOD - Eric Diehl (8) (unassisted), 88:34
Shots: Lycoming 18, Hood 18. Saves: Lycoming 6 (Connor Keenan 2; James Quinn 4), Hood 4 (Ryan Deuber 4)
Records: Lycoming (4-10-2, 1-7-1 Commonwealth); Hood (4-10-2, 1-8-0).
PENN COLLEGE 3, HAZLETON 0
P- Tarik Laroche (unassisted), 27:03; P- Blayne Allen, (Dressler), 80:47; P- Tarik Laroche (unassisted), 85:43
Shots: P- 22; H- 13. Corner kicks: P- 4; H- 2. Saves: P- 3; H 7. Goalies: P- Munn; H- Goldman
SLIPPERY ROCK 1, LOCK HAVEN 0
S- Thad Madzelonka (Davis; Hall), 104:17
Shots: S- 14; L- 6. Corner kicks: S- 3; L- 6. Saves: S- 3; L-1. Goalies: S- Clayton Master; L- Chris Frederick
College Volleyball
Stevenson 3, Lycoming 0
(25-13,25-15,25-8)
Lycoming (21-11) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Bethany Richardson 6-0-0; Kylee Sutton 3-0-0; Jackie Oliva 3-0-0; Shelby Gear 2-0-0; Chelsee Strine 2-0-0; Katelyn McKillop 0-1-0; Totals 16-1-0.0. (Assists) - Katelyn McKillop 14. (Dig leaders) - Kristin Whitehead 11; Katelyn McKillop 5
Stevenson (32-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Christine Isenberg 11-0-2; Avery Gabbard 10-0-0; Megan Miller 6-0-2; Kristen Lubeski 5-1-1; Imani Hudson 5-0-1; Kelly McKenzie 3-0-1; Stacey Rex 2-0-0; Jessica Gieselman 2-1-1; Samantha Perillo 1-2-0; Jenna Campbell 0-2-0; Totals 45-6-4.0. (Assists) - Jessica Gieselman 34. (Dig leaders) - Samantha Perillo 16; Christine Isenberg 7
Randolph 3, Lycoming 0
(25-19,25-22,25-20)
Lycoming (21-12) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Bethany Richardson 9-2-0; Kylee Sutton 8-1-0; Chelsee Strine 6-0-0; Jackie Oliva 5-0-2; Shelby Gear 2-0-0; Katelyn McKillop 2-1-0; Totals 32-4-1.0. (Assists) - Katelyn McKillop 25. (Dig leaders) - Kristin Whitehead 17; Katelyn McKillop 12
Randolph (9-23) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Jordan Templin 9-0-1; Celine Rhodes 8-0-2; Grayce Darden 5-1-3; Marissa McClinton 4-0-0; Sam Sublett 4-0-2; Sydney Henson 3-0-0; Katherine Lesnak 1-0-1; Tori Lange 1-0-0; Kerry McMichael 0-1-0; Andrea Mewhinney 0-1-0; Totals 35-3-5.0. (Assists) - Kerry McMichael 15; Andrea Mewhinney 12. (Dig leaders) - Lexi Harrington 16; Katherine Lesnak 10.
Women's Swimming
Albright 155, Lycoming 84
200 Medley: Albright 'A', 1:57.15; 1000 Free: Amanda Osterlind (AC), 11:11.03; 200 Free: Gwen Stefan (AC), 2:03.68; 100 Back: Kaitlyn Huizing (AC), 1:03.69; 100 Breast: Lauren Cormier (AC), 1:12.61; 200 Fly: Madison Hauk (AC), 2:25.17; 50 Free: Codi Herr (AC), 25.24; 100 Free: Codi Herr (AC), 54.61; 200 Back: Kaitlyn Huizing (AC), 2:19.71; 200 Breast: Kari Keller (AC), 2:37.52; 500 Free: Gwen Stefan (AC), 5:33.74; 100 Fly: Codi Herr (AC), 1:02.04; 200 IM: Madison Hauk (AC), 2:24.31.
Men's Swimming
Albright 146, Lycoming 108
200 Medley: Albright 'A', 1:41.10; 1000 Free: Rick Sutton (AC), 10:39.49; 200 Free: Mike McBride (AC), 1:50.46; 100 Back: Ralph Porrazzo (AC), 54.09; 100 Breast: T.J. Guminski (LC), 1:03.85; 200 Fly: Adam Vogel (AC), 2:03.48; 50 Free: Matthew Runtas (AC), 22.30; 100 Free: Mike McBride, 49.14; 200 Back: Ralph Porrazzo (AC), 1:59.97; 200 Breast: T.J. Guminski (LC), 2:22.26; 500 Free: Rick Sutton (AC), 5:08.03; 100 Fly: Kyle Garase (LC), 53.20; 200 IM: Adam Vogel (AC), 2:05.07; 200 Free: Albright 'A', 1:28.58.
