Temple needed just 60 seconds to open the game to use that speed to get into position from 10 yards out and put in a goal to the far-right post.

Sixty seconds was all Hughesville needed to score and from there, the rout was on. Hughesville scored five first-half goals and dominated possession against Wellsboro en route to a 5-0 District 4 Class AA quarterfinal victory on Thursday at Balls Mills.

The win advances the Spartans to the district semifinals against Troy next week at a site and time to be determined.

“We knew we wanted to come out fast and just being able to put one into the back of the net just eased everyone nerves, especially because it was so early. For me, it kind of gave me like a sense of ‘OK, I can take a second and think about everything,'” Temple said. “There’s not so much pressure. We’re confident coming into this game, but anything can always happen. We just needed the one early to put everyone’s heads on right.”

Goal keeper Jadyn Dunlap of Wellsboro punches away a shot on goal by Hughesville in Balls Mills. Hughesville won 5-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Hughesville controlled the game from start to finish and rarely allowed Wellsboro to get a look at the goal. The Green Hornets (11-8-1) only had one shot on goal in the first half, which came from 35 yards out when Ella Boyce got fed a throughball that she put on frame but Kalia Hack scooped it for the save.

Hack and Jasmine Caputo combined in goal for the shutout.

Hughesville fired seven shots on goal in the first half and five found their way past keeper Jadyn Dunlap.

“That’s something we talked about all year, right? We want to bring the energy right from the start,” Hughesville coach Cody Hack said. “When you put one in on them in the first minute, you’re able to settle down and get used to the turf. We don’t play on turf, so we knew that would take a little bit of time. It’s always nice to put one in on them.”

Hughesville kept putting pressure on Wellsboro’s defense after Temple’s goal in the first minute and broke through with 23:22 remaining in the haf. That’s when Elizabeth Wolfe fed a pass to Taggart, who put it in for the 2-0 lead. Just 31 seconds later, Hughesville scored again, this time when Temple assisted Caradyn McGinley for a 3-0 lead less than halfway through the first half.

Caradyn McGinley (7) of Hughesville makes a pass to team mate Kat Temple in front of the net of Wellsboro in Balls Mills. Hughesville won 5-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“Hughesville is a tough team. They put a lot of pressure on you,” Wellsboro coach Michael Reese said. “Our goal was to put pressure on them and not give them any room to make shots. Unfortunately they’re really good so they find holes.”

With 19:17 to play, Temple got the ball from 35 yards out and ripped a shot high that cleared the crossbar narrowly for a 4-0 lead. The Spartans’ fifth and final goal came with 7:35 until halftime on a great cross and finish.

From outside the 18, Taggart passed to her right and found the foot of Katelyn Temple right in front of the goal as she put it in and gave the Spartans a 5-0 lead.

In total, Hughesville had six players either score a goal or have an assist.

“I don’t care where the goals come from. I don’t even care if we win 1-nil. As long as you keep a goose egg on other side of the scoreboard, that’s all that matters,” Hack said. “Being able to spread the wealth around is something that we preach. It doesn’t go through one person and it requires the other team to have to defend all 11.”

Kat Temple of Hughesville watches as her shot goes into the hands of Jadyn Dunlap of Wellsboro who makes a diving save in Balls Mills. Hughesville won 5-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“We have so many goal scorers on our team. We can put any one up there and I’m confident that anyone up there can score. Our strikers score, our wings score, our mids can score, even defenders have scored,” Kylie Temple said. “Knowing anyone on this team I trust completely with the ball at their feet. It’s such a nice feeling especially being my senior year and everything knowing that I trust these girls to carry me to the next game with everything in me. It feels great.”

Hughesville ended the game with 21 total shots fired, 14 of which were on frame. Wellsboro managed just three shots the entire night as the Spartans kept possession and never let Wellsboro get a chance to score.

“I think possession has been, especially later part of our season, one of our strong suits. We’re really finding a way to click with each other and how we each play,” Kylie Temple said. “Some of us coming back from injury, coming back from not playing next year, some are freshmen and sophomores who didn’t play as much last year. we’re all finding out how to work really well together and kind of flow off what each other is going to do, knowing what each other is going to do next. Everyone knows what we’re going to do, we’re all on the same basis I guess.”

While the season didn’t end the way Wellsboro had hoped, the Green Hornets still had an outstanding year. The Green Hornets ended the year with 11 wins, which is the most wins in a single season since 12 in 2015. It also more than doubled last year’s win production (four) and is almost as many wins as the last three seasons combined (13).

“It’s been a great season, especially compared to the last several years,” Reese said. “Their heart, their effort, unbelievable. Just something that when you start talking about growth, you have to take one step at a time and to go from four wins to 11 in a year, it’s incredible.”

Bella Remsnyder of Hughesville watches as goal keeper Jayden Dunlap of Wellsboro makes a save in the first half in Balls Mills. Hughesville won 5-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Hughesville 5, Wellsboro 0

H-Kylie Temple (Sierra Dewire), 39:00. H–Aly Taggart (Elizabeth Wolfe), 23:22. H–Caradyn McGinley (Kylie Temple), 22:51. H–Kylie Temple (McGinley), 19;17. H–Katelyn Temple (Taggart), 7:35.

Shots: H 14, W 3. Corners: H 13, W 0. Saves: H 3 (Kalia Hack 2, Jasmine Caputo 1), 9 (Jadyn Dunlap).

Records: Wellsboro (11-8-1), Hughesville (15-4). Next game: Hughesville vs. Troy, District 4 Class AA semifinals, TBD.

Bella Remsnyder of Hughesville takes a shot against Wellsboro in Balls Mills. Hughesville won 5-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Kylie Temple of Hughesville scores the first goal of the game against Wellsboro in Balls Mills. Hughesville won 5-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Aly Taggart (17) of Hughesville scores a goal against Wellsboro in Balls Mills. Hughesville won 5-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Elizabeth Wolfe of Hughesville breaks away and passes the ball to team mate Aly Taggart who scores a goal against Wellsboro in Balls Mills. Hughesville won 5-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Caradyn McGinley of Hughesville and Rylee Coolidge of Wellsboro collide as they both go for the ball in Balls Mills. Hughesville won 5-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette