And that applause was more than deserving.

Muncy’s starters played superb from start to finish when they were on the field, dominating Saturday’s District 4 Class A quarterfinal against East Juniata and taking control en route to a 5-0 shutout victory to advance to Tuesday’s semifinals against either Line Mountain or Wyalusing.

It’s the second consecutive season for the Indians reaching the district semifinals.

Leading just 2-0 coming out of the half, Muncy was hoping to strike and shift momentum after East Juniata had a near penalty-kick conversion late in the first half. And it took Muncy just 25 seconds to strike. That’s how fast standout Ava Eyer was able to get inside the 18 and fire a shot to the left post for a 3-0 lead and helped keep the game in Muncy’s control.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Muncy players try scoring a goal on Saturday.

“We always talk about that. It’s the third quarter in basketball or start of second half in soccer, it doesn’t matter. You have to come out in those first 10 minutes, it’s super important,” Gresh said. “We came out and scored right away, it’s like if they were to have got the first goal or scored first, momentum is then on their side. You score right away and it takes the air out of the balloon.”

Muncy hadn’t played a game in nearly a week since the end of the regular season, but didn’t have any rust to shake off and played well from the get go with a five-goal effort.

“A week off is a week off,” Gresh said. “We chose not to scrimmage to try to heal up and it seemed to pay off a little bit.”

Muncy’s offense was firing on all cylinders in Midd-West. The Indians had five girls score goals and out-shot East Juniata, 10-6.

Amelia Beckman and Rosie Zalonis both scored in the first half to give the Indians an early 2-0 lead. With 29:51 to play in the first half it was Amelia Beckman scoring off a Zoe Kunkle assist for a 1-0 lead. Eleven minutes later, Rosie Zalonis found the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.

Eva Nagel of Muncy waits to block the shot as Makaylyn Peters of East Juniata lies it up at Midd-West High School in Middleburg. Muncy won 5-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Eyer and Zunkle both ended Saturday’s game with a goal and assist apiece while Alexis McKetta and Ella Nagel added assists.

“It’s just the diversity of it. That just talks about the diversity of what we have,” Gresh said. “Yes, Kiki (Woodward) and Ava (Eyer) have had big seasons, but the rest of the team is equally capable of doing that, and they do. That’s super important because you can’t come out (and focus on one person).”

“We’ve had teams that man-mark Ava and Kiki does her thing, or they man-mark Kiki and Ava does her thing, or God forbid they man-mark both, we have other girls who can score,” Gresh added. “So it’s not about shutting one person down. It’s super important that diversity being key to the success we have.”

With 4:29 to play, East Juniata was awarded a penalty kick and the Tigers’ Cali Wagner lined up to take the shot. Wagner tried to send her shot toward the right post, but put just a little too much on it as it sailed just wide by a foot. The penalty kick was a huge chance for East Juniata to possibly score and shift momentum going into the break, but rather it remained a 2-0 Muncy lead and the Indians never looked back.

“It could have shifted momentum and that’s from playing aggressive, things are going to happen,” Gresh said. “It was a fine call, I told Rachel (Paulhamus) at halftime you just have to play. That’s how I want you to play. She did a nice job and luckily for us it didn’t go in and it kind of allowed us to regain the momentum right away in the second half.”

Rosie Zalonis (7) of Muncy celebrates scoring a goal against East Juniata at Midd-West High School in Middleburg. Muncy won 5-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

East Juniata’s only other chance to score a goal came with 14:50 to play in the second half. The Tigers’ Addison Evans got the ball inside of the 18 and had a good look at the goal, but her shot was slightly wide toward the right post.

After Eyer’s goal 25 seconds into the second half, the Indians added two more goals. Kunkle was fed an assist by Eyer with 30:11 to play to go ahead 4-0 and freshman Woodward scored off an McKeta assist to make it a 5-0 Muncy lead.

Of East Juniata’s six shots on goal, four game in the first half while the game was still within reach before Muncy’s offense put the game away with three second-half goals to secure another trip to the district semifinals.

In goal, Eva Nagel recorded the clean sheet with six saves to prevent East Juniata from slipping one past her.

Muncy 5, East Juniata 0

Ava Eyer of Muncy collides with keeper Landyn Cramer of East Juniata at Midd-West High School in Middleburg. Muncy won 5-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

(DISTRICT 4 CLASS A QUARTERFINALS)

M–Amelia Beckman (Zoe Kunkle), 29:51. M–Rosie Zalonis, 18:55. M–Ava Eyer (Ella Nagel), 39:35. M–Zoe Kunkle (Eyer), 30:11. M–Kiki Woodward (Alexis McKeta), 17:58.

Shots: EJ 6, M 12. Corners: EJ 2, M 6. Saves: EJ 5 (Landyn Cramer), M 6 (Eva Nagel).

Records; Muncy (16-2-1).

Ava Eyer (5) of Muncy takes a shot on goal against East Juniata at Midd-West High School in Middleburg. Muncy won 5-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Ava Eyer of Muncy races down a ball as she plays East Juniata at Midd-West High School in Middleburg. Muncy won 5-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Ava Eyer (5) of Muncy tries to race down a ball as goal keeper Landyn Cramer of East Juniata makes a save at Midd-West High School in Middleburg. Muncy won 5-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Amerlia Beckman (6) of Muncy gets a hug from team mate Zoe Kunkle (12) after Beckman scored a goal against East Juniata at Midd-West High School in Middleburg. Muncy won 5-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Ava Eyer (5) of Muncy and Addison Phillips (12) of East Juniata collide as they both go for the ball at Midd-West High School in Middleburg. Muncy won 5-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette