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The game plan for Montoursville entering Saturday’s District 4 Class AA quarterfinal at Selinsgrove was simple for coach Vic Gorini. He wanted the Warriors to come out strong, keep possession and hit the net a few times.
Check all those boxes off as completed.
Montoursville possessed nearly the entire game, scored within the first 10 minutes of the game and put up a six-goal performance in a 6-0 rout over Shamokin at Selinsgrove’s Harold L. Bolig Memorial Stadium.
Not a bad executed game plan.
“It’s just something we stress all year. Possession-style soccer, that’s what wins,” Gorini said. “We’re getting better at it. It’s just one of those challenges you have when you’re winning 50/50 balls and keeping possession. It’s a must for districts.”
Saul put Montoursville (16-1-1) on the board 10 minutes into the game when Shamokin (12-7-1) goalie Madison Lippay blocked her initial shot, but the ball stayed in play. Saul was still nearby and managed to tap in the ball toward the left post for the 1-0 lead.
Saul’s speed was too much for Shamokin’s back line to contain. The speedy senior scored three times — twice in the first half — to surpass 75 goals for her career. After Saturday’s contest, she sits at 29 goals for the season.
“It gave us a lot of confidence I feel like. This is most I’ve scored in one season, so I’m happy,” Saul said.
“She’s just relentless in her pursuit of goals and has a one-track mind to get the ball and take on defenders and score,” Gorini said.
Five minutes after Saul’s first goal, Jillian Irion found the back of the net when she took a shot right as Lippay came out of the goal and got the shot by her for a 2-0 lead. Saul then made it a 3-0 lead with 11:34 to play in the first half.
Saul fired a shot at the 18 and the slow-roller went toward the left post.
Montoursville didn’t allow Shamokin to fire a shot on goal the entire game. Shamokin only had one attempt, a direct kick 30 yards out, but it sailed to the left out of bounds.
“Our defense does a really good job at stopping teams from scoring. It’s impressive,” Saul said.
Montoursville was able to routinely get inside the 18 and fire shots against the Indians. Of Montoursville’s 15 total shots — 12 were on goal — all but four came from inside the 18.
“We expected a pretty physical game. They have some goal scorers so we expected them to challenge us offensively,” Gorini said. “Everything worked out the way we wanted it to and we’re happy with the outcome. We’ll take it.”
Saul recorded her third goal of the night four minutes into the second half for a 4-0 lead thanks to an assist from Madison Moll. Lydia Earnest scored with 20:45 to play for the fifth goal and Jayden Phillips put in goal No. 6 for the Warriors with 19:29 remaining.
Montoursville nearly scored another second half goal with 21:53 to play. After the Warriors sent in a perfect corner kick inside the 18, Montoursville’s Natalie Bennett jumped and connected on it, but Lippay managed to grab the shot and prevent the goal.
Up next for Montoursville is a tough matchup in the semifinals against Milton at a time and site to be determined.
Both the Warriors and Black Panthers have playmakers up top, solid back lines and outstanding goalies.
“We’re really excited we get Milton. So it’s exciting. … I think it’ll be defense (focused) because they have some really fast girls and we got some really good players too, so it’s going to be a really close game I feel like,” Saul said.
Montoursville 6, Shamokin 0
District 4 Class AA quarterfinals
M-Lily Saul, 30:15. M-Jillian Irion, 25:43. M-Saul, 11:34. M-Saul (Madison Moll), 36:24. M-Lydia Earnest, 20:45. M-Jayden Phillips, 19:29.
Shots: S 0, M 12. Corners: S 0, M 1. Saves: S 7 (Madison Lippay), M 0 (Kierstyn Dawes 0, Anna Baylor 0)
Records: Montoursville (16-1-1), Shamokin (12-7-1).