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Alexis McKeta, Addi Eyer score in Muncy’s 2-0 win vs. Millville in district semifinals

By JUSTIN BEITER 5 min read

SOUTH CENTRE TWP.-Millville and Muncy played a couple of evenly-matched games during the regular season, but Tuesday night’s game didn’t take on the same personality as the first two meetings. Muncy controlled things defensively against the shorthanded Quakers, who were missing multiple players due to a situation that came up just hours before the District 4 semifinal was to take place.

In the end, goals by Alexis Mcketa and Addi Eyer off of direct kicks provided all the offense Muncy would need, as the Indians earned a date with South Williamsport in the Class A finals on Thursday thanks to a 2-0 win.

“We knew if we kept playing outside, we would draw the midfield, keep it open and then just play square balls across and through,” Eyer said. “Our defense played a huge part, especially Emma McCormick. Anytime there was a fast break, we have full confidence in Emma. She’s got it.”

No. 2 seed Muncy (15-5) had 9-1 shot advantage in the first half. Eyer and her quickness caused problems for the Millville defense all night. She had three shots in a span of eight minutes, which were all saved by Quakers goalkeeper Caitlyn Ludwig. In the 25th minute of play a foul was called on Millville just outside of the 18-yard box. Mcketa took her time lining up the free kick, and the junior drilled it straight to the back of the net for her 14th goal of the season, giving Muncy a 1-0 lead.

“It was very important,” Mcketa said of her goal. “Then we kept going, and we were able to keep pushing. We were able to calm down and control the field.”

No. 6 seed Millville (12-8) tried its best to get an equalizer in the second half. Larissa Evans was the main focal point of Muncy’s defense for good reason. The 100-goal scorer was coming off a hat trick against Line Mountain on Saturday, and Evans tried to create a couple of opportunities, but there wasn’t a lot of operating space for her. Addi Gresh made a routine save on a shot early in the half, and about four minutes later, Evans made a run down the right side of the field, but rolled a shot wide of the goal. Evans finished with three of her team’s five shots.

“We had a situation develop where we didn’t have a couple of our starters, and that meant we had to switch some things up,” Millville coach Rick Riera-Gomez said. “None of this stuff happened until four o’clock (Tuesday) afternoon when girls are trying to adjust to everything. Needless to say, Muncy played a good game defensively. They stopped our movement and such, but being short-handed didn’t help us. I thought our defense did pretty well. They scored both their goals off of free kicks, but it’s unfortunate. I thought we had a chance. The situation that occurred put us at a significant disadvantage. I don’t know if that changes the outcome, but Muncy played a good game.”

McCormick was a pest defensively, and on three separate occasions, she single-handedly cleared long balls away from danger. With a minute left in the first half, McCormick sprinted back inside the box and kicked a ball out of bounds, and she did the same thing twice in the second half when it was still a one-goal game.

Perhaps the best chance Millville had came when Aubrey Koch put a hard shot on goal that Gresh routinely saved.

“Emma did really well,” Mcketa said. “She kept containing on defense, and she kept pushing us up so we could all work and push Larissa off. We were able to stop all of the long balls coming through.”

Finally, in the last minute, Eyer got capped things off in style with a much-deserved goal. Her direct kick came from five yards further out than Mcketa, but with the same positive result. The perfectly-placed, right-footed shot hit the top of the goal, and set up a third meeting against South Williamsport with a district championship on the line. Muncy will try to avenge a pair of regular season losses to the Mounties.

“It was so satisfying,” Eyer said. “I’m one goal away from 50, and I’ve just been working at it. I just felt the adrenaline pumping through my bones after those few runs, and I just wanted to take that kick. I felt confident in it. We just need to keep working. We work really hard. We know South, they’re a good team. They’re well-coached, and we have to contain Ella Moore. She’s a huge threat, but we’re getting better with our chemistry. Our forwards are working back a little bit more trying to play a defensive game, while keeping an offensive attack flow.”

Muncy 2, Millville 0

(District 4 Class A semifinals)

Mu-Alexis McKeta, 15:29. Mu-Addi Eyer, 0:52.

Shots: Mi 5, Mu 17. Corners: Mi 10, Mu 3. Saves: Mi 6 (Caitlyn Ludwig), Mu 4 (Addi Gresh).

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