Girls soccer features deep and talented field
A class-by-class look at the girls soccer district playoffs, which begins today.
GIRLS CLASS A
The field: 1. East Juniata; 2. South Williamsport; 3. Southern Columbia; 4. Sullivan County; 5. Line Mountain; 6. Bloomsburg; 7. Sayre; 8. Meadowbrook Christian; 9. Millville; 10. Wyalusing
East Juniata is the top seed in the girls field, and for good reason. The defending District 4 Class A champions and 2017 state semifinalists enter the district postseason with an unblemished 19-0 mark and had some good wins, including defeating Lewisburg (2-1), State College (4-3), Danville (3-0), Bloomsburg (7-0) and Southern Columbia (1-0). The Tigers are also ranked 12th in the state according to MaxPreps. But districts won’t be a walk in the park for East Juniata. On the other side of the bracket is No. 2-seeded South Williamsport, a solid squad coming into the postseason with only two losses on its resume.
The Mounties (16-2) are a little banged up, but still have a ton of playmakers on the roster that can step up, including Bella Green, Haley Neidig and Jaela House to name a few. South is hoping that 50-goal scorer Lela Warner will be able to play again after getting hurt early in the season with a knee injury. Add Warner to the mix again, and South Williamsport’s offense becomes even more dangerous than it already is. But the Mounties were hoping the short break between the end of the season and districts can help get some kids healthy and ready.
“We’re just trying to get healthy. We want to be healthy for playoffs,” South Williamsport coach Dan Solley said after Thursday’s win against Sullivan County.
Back in the playoffs again is Sullivan County, which will face Line Mountain in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Line Mountain is also who Sullivan County defeated last year to win the program’s first district win. The Griffins are hoping to continue to be successful in the playoffs under Pete Swinick and the Griffins have the talent to do so. Bethany Beinlich and Chloe Burke have proved to be a solid 1-2 offensive punch, with Beinlich leading the area with 24 goals scored and Burke not too far behind with 17. Sullivan County ended the year with two tough back-to-back games against Benton and South Williamsport, but that type of scheduling is what Swinick wants to help his team improve.
“It’s perfect for the end of the season. Sort of why we schedule them like this. We picked up some harder teams to get ready. You tune up,” Swinick said. “That’s what you want is these tough games right at the end. Win or lose, it doesn’t matter. Benton’s seeded fourth in double A, these guys (South) are seeded third in A. We’re losing to them by one goal. We’ll see how we do in playoffs. We won’t be scared of anybody when we walk into the playoffs.
“That’s what it’s all about.”
PREDICTED FINISH – PLAY-INS: Millville over Meadowbrook Christian; Sayre over Wyalusing. QUARTERFINALS: East Juniata over Millville; Sullivan County over Line Mountain; South Williamsport over Sayre; Southern Columbia over Bloomsburg. SEMIFINALS: East Juniata over Sullivan County; South Williamsport over Southern Columbia. FINAL: East Juniata over South Williamsport.
CLASS AA
The field: 1. Midd-West; 2. Central Columbia; 3. Troy; 4. Benton; 5. Milton; 6. Lewisburg; 7. Danville; 8. Wellsboro; 9. Montoursville; 10. Loyalsock
Even after graduating 100-goal scorer and Penn State recruit Kelli Beiler, Midd-West didn’t seem to skip a beat, and that speaks to the talent the Mustangs have and the determination to continue to be a top team in the district. The Mustangs are seeded No. 1 in the field and have lost just three times this season against Danville, Central Columbia and Southern Columbia. The Mustangs closed the season with four consecutive wins, including blanking Lewisburg, Jersey Shore and defeating Central Columbia in double overtime by a goal.
Midd-West (15-3) has a bye and will face either Wellsboro or Montoursville, two teams that have a play-in game.
The Green Hornets (9-8) have proved all season they have talented playmakers up top, including 50-goal scorer Emma Poirier, Kerrah Clymer and Jenna Boyce. The trio have combined for 61 goals and 39 assists. That offense could give Montoursville (8-9-1) some problems containing. The Warriors got solid goalkeeper Avery Zales back in goal late in the season and Montoursville, while fairly young, has competed well with solid teams throughout this year. Montoursville freshman Lily Saul has become a weapon for the Warriors with a team-high 15 goals. Montoursville also has playmakers such as Anna Schult and Bella Masias that can create chances and opportunities.
Milton had one of the area’s best turnaround seasons. After winning just six games the last three years combined, the Black Panthers went 11-7-1, the most wins since the program went 14-3-2 in 2009. That also happens to be the last time Milton got to the postseason when a Caitlin Landis-led offense made it to the district semifinals. The Black Panthers don’t have an easy opponent though, having to face Benton (11-6-1). Leah Bergey, Crystal Hamilton and Leah Walter emerged this year as playmakers for Milton, and the Black Panthers have a solid goalie in Kamryn Snyder, who has eight shutouts, tied for the most in the area.
“I am very impressed with Kamryn’s level of play this year. She has definitely stepped it up, has been willing to work extremely hard and she has been very coachable, which is a huge component,” Milton first-year coach Rod Harris said earlier this year. “That being said, she has an extremely good defensive unit in front of her with sophomore Katie Weaver, freshman Janae Bergey and Leah Walter and juniors Bevi Girardi, Aubrey Chappell, Taylor Snyder that helps with those shutouts.”
Loyalsock (8-8-2) had a bit of a skid late in the year but rebounded to win two of its final four games to secure a postseason berth. The Lancers have a play-in game against Danville (7-8-3). Danville’s backline will have a task all game attempting to contain the speedy duo of Juliana Cruz and Charlotte Neylon. The Lancers’ also have a solid goalie in Mari Houseknecht, who has four shutouts.
Lewisburg (8-7-3) avoided consecutive years missing the postseason by clinching a playoff berth late in the year. The Green Dragons face Troy in the quarterfinals. Lewisburg has been solid all year from a defensive standpoint, only allowing multiple goals in a game six times and Lewisburg’s defense is averaging only 0.9 goals per game. Give credit to Chloe Michaels who helps anchor Lewisburg’s back line and goalkeeper Lauren Gross, who has eight shutouts and has been a wall all year.
PREDICTED FINISH – PLAY INS: Montoursville over Wellsboro; Loyalsock over Danville. QUARTERFINALS: Midd-West over Montoursville; Benton over Milton; Central Columbia over Loyalsock; Lewisburg over Troy. SEMIFINALS: Midd-West over Benton; Lewisburg over Central Columbia. FINAL: Midd-West over Lewisburg.
CLASS AAA
The field: 1. Athens; 2. Selinsgrove; 3. Mifflinburg; 4. Shikellamy
Selinsgrove is looking to win the program’s first repeat district title and to appear in its third consecutive district championship. The Seals’ title last year was its second, as it also won districts in 2012. Selinsgrove (11-7) has double-digit wins for the eighth consecutive season.
Mifflinburg is 11-6-1 and has to face the defending district champions in the semifinals. The Wildcats have scored 60 goals this year and defensively have yielded only 23 and the Wildcats aren’t a stranger to Selinsgrove. Mifflinburg had to play the Seals on back-to-back days in mid-October, losing the first contest, 2-0, before rebounding with a 3-0 win. Mifflinburg is led by Riley Griffith, who has double digit goals and assists this year.
Athens lost a pair of 50-goal scorers from last year’s team in Emily Lunger and Morgan Ferguson, but brought back a lot to this year’s team with Rachel Hutchison, Ariana Gambrell, Brooke Warner and Emma Adams. The Wildcats have 13 wins this year and will look to knock off Shikellamy, last year’s district finalists.
The Braves enter the postseason with a 9-7-2 record. Shikellamy struggled to open the year, starting the season 1-3-1 before coming together and posting a winning record down the stretch. The Braves have scored 40 goals this year, but defensively yielded 28 through 18 games.
PREDICTED FINISH: – SEMIFINALS: Athens over Shikellamy; Selinsgrove over Mifflinburg. FINAL: Selinsgrove over Athens.
CLASS AAAA
The field: (not available)
Williamsport gets a bye into the championship game after Scranton opted out of playing in the postseason. But that extra week of rest is good for Williamsport to allow Sammi Reeder a little extra time to heal up after she suffered a knee injury earlier in the year. Reeder has gotten some playing time late in the season, including some minutes against Montoursville, but an extra week to rest can only help, and that’s going to help the Millionaires’ already solid offense.
Katie Penman stepped up when Reeder went down to carry the offense and she hasn’t disappointed, leading the team with 17 goals and six assists, helping spark Williamsport when needed.
The Millionaires are the defending district champions, having won back-to-back titles, and Williamsport is a favorite entering the playoffs to make it a three-peat this year, which would be a first for the girls program.
As of Monday evening, the District 2-4 Class AAAA playoff bracket for girls soccer was not released. Williamsport plays in the championship game on either Wednesday, Oct. 31, or on Thursday, Nov. 1.
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